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Rail Car Repairers in New Mexico
Considering working as a Rail Car Repairers in New Mexico? Here’s what the data says. Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars. Excludes “Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists” (49-3031).
What do Rail Car Repairers Make in New Mexico?
For a rail car repairers working in New Mexico, the median annual wage is $61,750 per year (or about $29.69/hour).Earnings range from $50,660 at the 10th percentile to $78,480 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,660 | $24.36 |
| 25th percentile | $52,480 | $25.23 |
| Median (50th) | $61,750 | $29.69 |
| 75th percentile | $78,480 | $37.73 |
| 90th percentile | $78,480 | $37.73 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in New Mexico nationwide is 1.13, suggesting that rail car repairers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, rail car repairers earn a median of $49,359 per year ($23.73/hour), higher than the New Mexico median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 269,068 rail car repairers in the U.S.. In New Mexico alone, around 120 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 340 rail car repairers.
Top States for Rail Car Repairers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most rail car repairers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 2,190 |
| New York | 1,560 |
| Illinois | 1,440 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,000 |
| Georgia | 670 |
| Kentucky | 670 |
| California | 650 |
| Massachusetts | 620 |
| Nebraska | 610 |
| Florida | 500 |
| Maryland | 490 |
| Ohio | 480 |
| Minnesota | 390 |
| Michigan | 380 |
| New Jersey | 380 |
| Louisiana | 370 |
| Mississippi | 370 |
| Indiana | 340 |
| Arkansas | 340 |
| North Carolina | 340 |
Highest-Paying States for Rail Car Repairers
The highest-paying states for rail car repairers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $97,660 |
| Oregon | $85,380 |
| New York | $85,160 |
| Maryland | $84,840 |
| Wisconsin | $84,750 |
| Colorado | $84,420 |
| Minnesota | $79,330 |
| Delaware | $77,240 |
| New Jersey | $76,740 |
| Utah | $75,280 |
Skills
Top rail car repairers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for rail car repairers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, rail car repairers typically:
- 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, 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.
- Paint car exteriors, interiors, and fixtures.
- Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Training and Teaching Others
- Performing General Physical Activities
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat In-demand technologies: Disassembler software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Related occupations to rail car repairers include:
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Also Known As
Air Brake Adjuster, Air Brake Man, Air Brake Mechanic, Air Brake Rigger, Air Brake Worker, Air Compressor Mechanic, Air Valve Mechanic, Air Valve Repairer, Brake Adjuster, Brake Liner, Brake Reliner, Brake Shoe Rebuilder, Brake Specialist, Breaker Mechanic, Coach Mechanic.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 49-3043.00