49 Series · SOC 49-3043
Rail Car Repairers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $67,530
- Median / year
- $95,100
- Top 10% earn
- +2.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 21,350
- US workers
Rail Car Repairers earn a median of $67,530 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $67,530, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,800 (10th percentile) to $95,100 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 21,350 US workers. Massachusetts pays the most ($108,680), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Rail Car Repairers earn a median of $67,530, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 59% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #13 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.8% by 2033.
- $67,530
- Median annual wage
- Top 41%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #13 of 51
- in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- 2.0×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $108,680. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Rail Car Repairers (SOC 49-3043) pays a national median of $67,530 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $46,800 at the 10th percentile to $95,100 at the 90th, with a mean of $70,680 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 21,350 Americans work in this occupation across 40 reporting states and 23 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and long-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 8.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $108,680, which is +61% above the national figure. The top metro is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $103,540 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$67,530
per year
Median Hourly
$32.46/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$70,680
average
Employment
21,350
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Rail Car Repairers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$67,530 Top 41% higher than 59% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 49-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Rail Car Repairers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Rail Car Repairers sits on the slower-growing side at +2.8% growth and $67,530 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.8%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8.1/100K
Injury Rate
3/100
Danger Index
16/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Rail Car Repairers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
- ▸ 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 and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems.
- ▸ Disassemble units such as water pumps, control valves, and compressors so that repairs can be made.
- ▸ Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$46,800
25th Percentile
$54,520
Median
$67,530
75th Percentile
$84,570
90th Percentile
$95,100
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 40 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $108,680 | +61% above national |
| 2 | Maryland | $89,430 | +32% above national |
| 3 | Oregon | $87,470 | +30% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $86,630 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Idaho | $85,420 | +26% above national |
| 6 | New York | $84,580 | +25% above national |
| 7 | Illinois | $84,570 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Utah | $83,980 | +24% above national |
| 9 | Virginia | $83,720 | +24% above national |
| 10 | Arizona | $81,230 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Delaware | $78,900 | +17% above national |
| 12 | New Jersey | $78,750 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Minnesota | $77,800 | +15% above national |
| 14 | South Dakota | $71,750 | +6% above national |
| 15 | California | $68,370 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Missouri | $68,290 | +1% above national |
| 17 | New Mexico | $67,550 | same as national |
| 18 | Michigan | $64,370 | 5% below national |
| 19 | Georgia | $64,230 | 5% below national |
| 20 | Washington | $63,410 | 6% below national |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $62,350 | 8% below national |
| 22 | Florida | $62,260 | 8% below national |
| 23 | Iowa | $60,550 | 10% below national |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $60,540 | 10% below national |
| 25 | Indiana | $60,490 | 10% below national |
| 26 | Maine | $60,090 | 11% below national |
| 27 | Tennessee | $60,090 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Kentucky | $59,430 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Texas | $59,330 | 12% below national |
| 30 | Wyoming | $59,040 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $58,870 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Alabama | $58,080 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Arkansas | $53,810 | 20% below national |
| 34 | Ohio | $53,480 | 21% below national |
| 35 | West Virginia | $50,800 | 25% below national |
| 36 | Kansas | $48,160 | 29% below national |
| 37 | Nevada | $48,100 | 29% below national |
| 38 | Louisiana | $47,970 | 29% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $47,880 | 29% below national |
| 40 | Mississippi | $47,480 | 30% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 23 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $103,540 | +53% above national |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $92,250 | +37% above national |
| 3 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $89,430 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,470 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $76,870 | +14% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,250 | 8% below national |
| 7 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,120 | 9% below national |
| 8 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,820 | 11% below national |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,810 | 11% below national |
| 10 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $59,310 | 12% below national |
| 11 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $58,120 | 14% below national |
| 12 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $56,820 | 16% below national |
| 13 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $54,830 | 19% below national |
| 14 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $54,120 | 20% below national |
| 15 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $53,530 | 21% below national |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $50,910 | 25% below national |
| 17 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,910 | 26% below national |
| 18 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,710 | 26% below national |
| 19 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,580 | 30% below national |
| 20 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $46,480 | 31% below national |
| 21 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,500 | 34% below national |
| 22 | Wichita, KS | $38,840 | 42% below national |
| 23 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $38,810 | 43% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 49 (installation maintenance and repair) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Rail Car Repairers make? ▼
What state pays Rail Car Repairers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Rail Car Repairers? ▼
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Is Rail Car Repairers a good career? ▼
How does Rail Car Repairers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Rail Car Repairers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Rail Car Repairers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $84,570/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Massachusetts leads at $108,680/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.