Rail Car Repairers Career, Salary and Skills
Rail Car Repairers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $67,530 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 21,350. Wage data is published for 58 locations.
Occupation description
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
O*NET code
49-3043.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$67,530
Hourly median
$32.46
Employment
21,350
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$46,800
10th
$54,520
25th
$67,530
Median
$84,570
75th
$95,100
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Troubleshooting | 4.00 | 3.75 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Operation and Control | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Writing | 2.88 | 2.75 |
Typical tasks
- Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
- Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
- Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
- Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- Test units for operability before and after repairs.
- Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
- Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
- Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Disassembler software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Mozilla Firefox
- RailTech Software Solutions Rail 21 Management System
- RailTech Software Systems Mars for the 21st Century
- WheelShop Automation.com Wheel Shop Management Suite
Rail Car Repairers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in TXMedian $59,330 · Employment 2,690
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in ILMedian $84,570 · Employment 1,850
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in NYMedian $84,580 · Employment 1,730
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in GAMedian $64,230 · Employment 980
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in PAMedian $62,350 · Employment 970
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in New York, NYMedian $92,250 · Employment 800
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in Houston, TXMedian $59,310 · Employment 790
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in MAMedian $108,680 · Employment 770
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in KYMedian $59,430 · Employment 770
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in CAMedian $68,370 · Employment 700
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in OHMedian $53,480 · Employment 690
- Rail Car Repairers Salary in INMedian $60,490 · Employment 670
Related careers
- Signal and Track Switch RepairersNational median $92,460
- MillwrightsNational median $65,700
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsNational median $70,070
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersNational median $63,800
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansNational median $57,550
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralNational median $49,590
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersNational median $39,630
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsNational median $47,880
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.