Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $70,070 | $33.69 |
| Mean (average) | $68,740 | $33.05 |
| 90th percentile | $87,420 | $42.03 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $76,620 | $45,590 | $89,530 | 170 | 0.41 |
| Arkansas | $60,230 | $48,420 | $70,830 | 150 | 0.89 |
| California | $71,170 | $45,820 | $86,240 | 770 | 0.34 |
| Colorado | $64,300 | $39,790 | $84,850 | 300 | 0.83 |
| Delaware | $80,610 | $43,620 | $92,150 | 130 | 2.17 |
| Florida | $61,220 | $45,100 | $62,850 | 490 | 0.39 |
| Georgia | $63,010 | $40,150 | $78,290 | 710 | 1.15 |
| Idaho | $79,020 | $48,570 | $81,820 | 90 | 0.79 |
| Illinois | $78,910 | $51,500 | $92,500 | 1,190 | 1.55 |
| Indiana | $78,020 | $58,170 | $82,100 | 320 | 0.79 |
| Iowa | $45,640 | $32,010 | $81,440 | 200 | 1.04 |
| Kansas | $58,590 | $49,300 | $71,890 | 310 | 1.71 |
| Kentucky | $73,120 | $46,650 | $73,200 | 270 | 1.08 |
| Louisiana | $44,150 | $40,480 | $55,710 | ||
| Maryland | $92,030 | $62,090 | $100,490 | 320 | 0.91 |
| Massachusetts | $94,330 | $61,570 | $101,350 | 570 | 1.24 |
| Michigan | $75,450 | $46,590 | $91,480 | 290 | 0.53 |
| Minnesota | $49,640 | $45,090 | $85,120 | 760 | 2.05 |
| Mississippi | Data unavailable | 310 | 2.09 | ||
| Missouri | $64,390 | $47,160 | $71,500 | 410 | 1.1 |
| Montana | $79,170 | $51,400 | $80,440 | 200 | 3.13 |
| Nevada | $56,740 | $45,180 | $73,810 | 40 | 0.21 |
| New Jersey | $66,540 | $53,590 | $107,830 | 230 | 0.42 |
| New Mexico | $83,370 | $46,160 | $90,440 | 80 | 0.77 |
| New York | $87,150 | $58,580 | $87,420 | 3,590 | 2.94 |
| North Carolina | $47,700 | $39,560 | $75,980 | 270 | 0.44 |
| Ohio | $47,980 | $45,180 | $68,970 | 1,130 | 1.61 |
| Oklahoma | $61,860 | $47,450 | $79,650 | 310 | 1.46 |
| Oregon | $50,930 | $41,430 | $85,080 | 190 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,800 | $47,500 | $81,820 | 830 | 1.09 |
| South Carolina | $71,770 | $41,030 | $76,150 | 30 | 0.11 |
| South Dakota | $64,500 | $47,890 | $73,150 | 110 | 1.96 |
| Tennessee | $66,390 | $47,700 | $78,430 | 260 | 0.62 |
| Texas | $56,470 | $43,460 | $70,910 | 940 | 0.53 |
| Utah | $63,190 | $52,110 | $83,310 | 60 | 0.28 |
| Virginia | $84,750 | $59,820 | $92,270 | 360 | 0.7 |
| Washington | $58,740 | $51,280 | $73,620 | 500 | 1.11 |
| West Virginia | $56,660 | $46,940 | $71,010 | 270 | 3.02 |
| Wisconsin | $47,920 | $47,850 | $72,820 | 180 | 0.49 |
| Wyoming | $71,580 | $48,830 | $79,810 | 220 | 6.35 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
- Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
- Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Timekeeping software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Machine Operator, Track Equipment Operator (TEO), Track Inspector, Track Laborer, Track Maintainer, Track Repair Person, Track Repairer, Track Service Person, Track Walker, Trackman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make?
The national median annual wage for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators was $70,070 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $45,640 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $87,420. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators to change +1.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($94,330), Maryland ($92,030), New York ($87,150). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.