Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
SOC code 47-4061 · O*NET-SOC 47-4061.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$70,070
a year
Hourly
$33.69
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$68,740
$33.05 per hour
Middle 50%
$51,280 – $81,670
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$45,640 – $87,420
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
19,580
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $45,640
- $21.94/hr
- 25th percentile
- $51,280
- $24.65/hr
- Median percentile
- $70,070
- $33.69/hr
- 75th percentile
- $81,670
- $39.27/hr
- 90th percentile
- $87,420
- $42.03/hr
What do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn?
The national median is $70,070 a year. The full range runs from $45,640 at the 10th percentile to $87,420 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security3.8/5
- Transportation3.8/5
- Mechanical3.7/5
- Production and Processing3.6/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Building and Construction3.5/5
- Education and Training3.4/5
- English Language3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis.