Rail Car Repairers earn a median of $67,530 per year ($32.46/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.6% through 2035, with about 1,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-3043
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Rail Car Repairer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $67,530a year, or $32.46/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $47KTop 10% $95K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.6%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,60020,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202520.1K
- Projected 203520.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 20.1K Projected 2035 20.6K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school61.4%
- Certificate37.6%
- Associate's1%
Highest education held by rail car repairers Segment Value High school 61.4% Certificate 37.6% Associate's 1%
Also advertised as: Freight Maintenance Specialist, Locomotive Repairman, Rail Car Maintenance Mechanic, Rail Car Mechanic, Rail Car Repairer, Rail Car Repairman.
Pay
How much do Rail Car Repairers make?
Every rail car repairer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$67,530
Middle half earn $54,520 to $84,570
- 10th
- $46,800
- 25th
- $54,520
- 75th
- $84,570
- 90th
- $95,100
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $46,800 |
| 25th | $54,520 |
| Median | $67,530 |
| 75th | $84,570 |
| 90th | $95,100 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $67,530
- Median hourly wage
- $32.46/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $70,680
- People employed
- 21,350
Versus all US occupations
At $67,530, Rail Car Repairers earn 32% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,550 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 10% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $95,100 or more while the bottom 10% earn $46,800, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 42% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $108,680, and still leads at $102,764 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Rail Car Repairers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $108,680 | $102,764 | 770 |
| 2Maryland | $89,430 | $85,205 | 560 |
| 3Oregon | $87,470 | $84,626 | 230 |
| 4Colorado | $86,630 | $84,064 | 250 |
| 5Idaho | $85,420 | $89,451 | 110 |
| 6New York | $84,580 | $78,372 | 1,730 |
| 7Illinois | $84,570 | $84,606 | 1,850 |
| 8Utah | $83,980 | $84,945 | 100 |
| 9Virginia | $83,720 | $82,806 | 210 |
| 10Arizona | $81,230 | $80,684 | 170 |
Job outlook
Is Rail Car Repairer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rail Car Repairers | +2.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Rail Car Repairers to change 2.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, 8.0% of the 20,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians varies by occupation (see table).
As the stock of heavy vehicles and mobile equipment continues to increase, more service technicians are expected to be needed to maintain it.
Getting in
How to become a Rail Car Repairer
Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a formal training program at a postsecondary institution.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as rail car repairers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)61.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate37.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 61.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 37.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Rail Car Repairer do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, also called mechanics, inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
- Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
- Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
- Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
- Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
- Test units for operability before and after repairs.
- Perform scheduled maintenance, and clean units and components.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians work full time, and many work evenings or weekends. Overtime is common.
Farm equipment mechanics’ work varies by time of the year. During busy planting and harvesting seasons, for example, mechanics often work six or seven 12-hour days per week. In the winter months, however, they may work less than full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Writing2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Troubleshooting4.0
- Repairing4.0
- Equipment Maintenance3.8
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Operation and Control3.1
- Coordination2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 4.0 |
| Repairing | 4.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Compiler and decompiler software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Rail Car Repairer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Rail Car Repairer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.9
- Investigative2.8
- Social1.5
- Artistic1.2
- Enterprising1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Rail Car Repairer
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
$61,770median a year
Most earn $45K to $89K
+3.6%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
$50,620median a year
Most earn $35K to $82K
+5.0%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Except Engines
$65,510median a year
Most earn $47K to $94K
+6.7%High school - Production
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer
$56,210median a year
Most earn $37K to $85K
+4.4%High school
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with rail car repairers highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Rail Car Repairer$67,530
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Rail Car Repairer | $67,530 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Rail Car Repairer appears on
Questions
Rail Car Repairer: frequently asked questions
How much do Rail Car Repairers make?
Rail Car Repairers earn a median of $67,530 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 32% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $32.46/hr. The middle half earn between $54,520 and $84,570. The top 10% earn $95,100 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Rail Car Repairer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Rail Car Repairers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 61.4% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Rail Car Repairer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.6% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Rail Car Repairer do?
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, also called mechanics, inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries. A core O*NET task: inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Internet browser software.
Which states pay Rail Car Repairers the most?
The highest state medians for Rail Car Repairers are Massachusetts ($108,680), Maryland ($89,430), Oregon ($87,470) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Rail Car Repairer?
O*NET scores Rail Car Repairers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.