Rail Car Repairers Salary
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations · 21K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$67,530
Median hourly
$32
Average annual
$70,680
Typical range
$46,800–$95,100
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Rail Car Repairers is $67,530 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $32 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars..
Most earn between $46,800 and $95,100 a year. There are roughly 21K people employed as rail car repairers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Rail Car Repairers.
- Hourly
- $32.47
- Daily
- $260
- Weekly
- $1,299
- Bi-weekly
- $2,597
- Monthly
- $5,628
- Annual
- $67,530
$67,530 a year is around the 50th percentile for Rail Car Repairerss. The median is $67,530.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$103,540
- 2New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$92,250
- 3Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$89,430
- 4Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$87,470
- 5Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$76,870
- 6Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$62,250
- 7Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$61,120
- 8Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$59,820
- 9Pittsburgh, PA$59,810
- 10Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$59,310
- 11San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX$58,120
- 12Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$56,820
Related job titles
Employers advertise Rail Car Repairers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$50,620
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$53,710
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,850
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$56,210
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,520
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$65,380
What a Rail Car Repairers does
- Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
- 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.
- Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
- 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.
- Perform scheduled maintenance, and clean units and components.
- Examine car roofs for wear and damage, and repair defective sections, using roofing material, cement, nails, and waterproof paint.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Rail Car Repairers make?
- The median annual wage for Rail Car Repairers is $67,530 ($32 per hour). Pay ranges from about $46,800 at the 10th percentile to $95,100 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Rail Car Repairers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $70,680, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Rail Car Repairerss the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $108,680.
- Is Rail Car Repairers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 21K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Rail Car Repairers do?
- Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.; 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..