What Do Rail Car Repairer Do?
Occupation Description Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Life As a Rail Car Repairer
- Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- Repair window sash frames, attach weather stripping and channels to frames, and replace window glass, using hand tools.
- Perform scheduled maintenance, and clean units and components.
- Align car sides for installation of car ends and crossties, using width gauges, turnbuckles, and wrenches.
- Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems.
- Examine car roofs for wear and damage, and repair defective sections, using roofing material, cement, nails, and waterproof paint.
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Rail Car Repairer Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Rail Car Repairers say are important on the job.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Related Job Titles
- Test Rack Operator
- Tipple Mechanic
- Mine Car Repairer
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Rail Car Welder
Are There Job Opportunities for Rail Car Repairers?
There were about 22,300 jobs for Rail Car Repairer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,100 new jobs for Rail Car Repairer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Rail Car Repairer are Idaho, Utah, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, West Virginia, or North Carolina. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Rail Car Repairer Make?
The average yearly salary of a Rail Car Repairer ranges between $33,700 and $78,420.

Rail Car Repairers who work in West Virginia, New York, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Rail Car Repairers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $49,690 |
Alaska | $68,390 |
Arizona | $56,200 |
Arkansas | $55,650 |
California | $55,320 |
Colorado | $60,820 |
Florida | $57,780 |
Georgia | $46,500 |
Idaho | $45,620 |
Illinois | $52,920 |
Indiana | $50,190 |
Iowa | $48,680 |
Kansas | $49,060 |
Kentucky | $56,720 |
Louisiana | $51,470 |
Maine | $44,470 |
Maryland | $65,350 |
Massachusetts | $67,660 |
Michigan | $55,880 |
Minnesota | $58,240 |
Mississippi | $45,830 |
Missouri | $53,170 |
Montana | $58,800 |
Nebraska | $46,160 |
New Jersey | $65,890 |
New Mexico | $62,300 |
New York | $71,250 |
North Carolina | $44,740 |
North Dakota | $54,150 |
Ohio | $49,100 |
Oklahoma | $52,460 |
Oregon | $64,230 |
Pennsylvania | $61,430 |
South Carolina | $46,400 |
Tennessee | $57,400 |
Texas | $52,290 |
Utah | $41,920 |
Virginia | $62,300 |
Washington | $58,090 |
West Virginia | $66,810 |
Wisconsin | $56,040 |
Wyoming | $60,730 |
What Tools do Rail Car Repairers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Rail Car Repairers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Windows
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox
Becoming a Rail Car Repairer
What education or degrees do I need to become a Rail Car Repairer?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Rail Car Repairers Sector

Rail Car Repairers work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Rail Car Repairer may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Rail Car Repairer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Margo Wright via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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