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Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators earn a median $70,070 a year in the U.S., with 19,580 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $70,070 a year
- Employment
- 19,580
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +1.5%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 1,200
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $70,070 · $33.69 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $68,740 · $33.05 an hour (estimate error ±0.8%)
- 10th percentile
- $45,640 · $21.94 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $51,280 · $24.65 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $81,670 · $39.27 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $87,420 · $42.03 an hour
- Employment
- 19,580 (estimate error ±2.3%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 17,400
- Projected for 2035
- 17,700
- Change
- +300 (+1.5%)
- Openings each year
- 1,200
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $94,330 | 570 |
| 2 | Maryland | $92,030 | 320 |
| 3 | New York | $87,150 | 3,590 |
| 4 | Virginia | $84,750 | 360 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $83,370 | 80 |
| 6 | Delaware | $80,610 | 130 |
| 7 | Montana | $79,170 | 200 |
| 8 | Idaho | $79,020 | 90 |
| 9 | Illinois | $78,910 | 1,190 |
| 10 | Indiana | $78,020 | 320 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 3,590 | $87,150 |
| Illinois | 1,190 | $78,910 |
| Ohio | 1,130 | $47,980 |
| Texas | 940 | $56,470 |
| Pennsylvania | 830 | $59,800 |
| California | 770 | $71,170 |
| Minnesota | 760 | $49,640 |
| Georgia | 710 | $63,010 |
| Massachusetts | 570 | $94,330 |
| Washington | 500 | $58,740 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,150 | 2,710 |
| 2 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $85,240 | 280 |
| 3 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $65,060 | 130 |
| 4 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,120 | 220 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,390 | 160 |
| 6 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $56,470 | 100 |
| 7 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $52,900 | 180 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,710 | $87,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 280 | $85,240 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 220 | $60,120 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 180 | $52,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 160 | $59,390 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 130 | $65,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 100 | $56,470 |
| Longview, TX | 90 | $50,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 90 | $75,280 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 50 | $87,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 50 | $62,030 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 40 | $59,110 |
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay by state
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make?
- The median wage for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in the U.S. is $70,070 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,280 and $81,670.
- Which state pays rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median wage for this occupation at $94,330 a year.
- What is the job outlook for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators?
- BLS projects employment to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,200 openings each year on average.
- What education do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.