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Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Washington
Thinking about a career as a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Washington? Here’s what the data says. Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
What do Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Make in Washington?
The rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators working in Washington, wages run about $64,950 per year (or roughly $31.23/hour).Annual wages span from $51,500 at the 10th percentile to $77,740 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| 25th percentile | $64,620 | $31.07 |
| Median (50th) | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| 75th percentile | $77,740 | $37.38 |
| 90th percentile | $77,740 | $37.38 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington compared to the national average — is 1.08.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn a median of $60,332 per year ($29.01/hour), higher than the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 200,941 rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators nationwide. In Washington alone, approximately 410 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 220 rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators.
Top States for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Employment
These states have the highest employment of rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New York | 3,330 |
| Texas | 1,160 |
| Ohio | 980 |
| Illinois | 960 |
| Florida | 580 |
| California | 560 |
| Pennsylvania | 560 |
| Indiana | 510 |
| Minnesota | 430 |
| Washington | 410 |
| Massachusetts | 390 |
| Georgia | 370 |
| Tennessee | 350 |
| Oklahoma | 310 |
| Maryland | 290 |
| North Carolina | 290 |
| Kansas | 280 |
| New Jersey | 240 |
| Alabama | 220 |
| Colorado | 200 |
Highest-Paying States for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
These states pay the most for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $90,410 |
| Delaware | $86,330 |
| New York | $84,840 |
| Massachusetts | $82,840 |
| Indiana | $79,320 |
| Iowa | $79,240 |
| Illinois | $76,930 |
| Arizona | $75,770 |
| New Mexico | $74,460 |
| Wisconsin | $70,870 |
Skills
Top rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators 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-track laying and maintenance equipment operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators typically:
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
- Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
- Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
- Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
- Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
- Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
- Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Other careers like rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators include:
- Construction Laborers
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Pipelayers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Also Known As
Ballast Cleaning Machine Operator, Emergency Service Restorer, Machine Operator, Maintenance Laborer, Oil Distributor Tender, Portable Grinding Machine Operator, Rail Maintenance Worker, Rail Track Layer, Rail Track Maintainer, Railroad Track Mechanic, Railway Equipment Operator, Section Hand, Section Laborer, Special Equipment Operator, Stone Crusher Operator.
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: 47-4061.00
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