What Do Rail Car Repairer Do?
Rail Car Repairer Example Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
A Day in the Life of a Rail Car Repairer
- Paint car exteriors, interiors, and fixtures.
- Test units for operability before and after repairs.
- Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
- Repair car upholstery.
- Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
- Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems.
Featured schools near , edit
What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Rail Car Repairer?
When polled, Rail Car Repairers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
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.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Other Rail Car Repairer Job Titles
- Freight Car Repairer
- Rail Car Maintenance Mechanic
- Pullman Car Repairer
- Brake Specialist
- Triple Valve Tester
Rail Car Repairer Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 22,300 jobs for Rail Car Repairer in 2016. 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 salary for Rail Car Repairers ranges between about $33,700 and $78,420 a year.

Rail Car Repairers who work in West Virginia, New York, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Rail Car Repairers in different U.S. states.
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Rail Car Repairers
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
Learn what Rail Car Repairer education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Rail Car Repairers?

Rail Car Repairers work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Rail Car Repairer might also be interested in the following careers:
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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |