Rail Car Repairers
Rail Car Repairers (SOC 49-3043) earn a median $67,530 a year ($32.46 an hour) in the United States, with 21,350 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What rail car repairers do
Rail car repairers diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars and mass transit rail cars. They look over the inside and outside of rail cars arriving in rail yards to spot defects and gauge how much wear and damage there is, check components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels and coupler assemblies to see whether repairs are needed, and record the condition of the cars and the repair and maintenance work performed or still to be done. Defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons and gears are repaired or replaced using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools and welding equipment. Locomotives, car mechanical units and other components are removed with pneumatic hoists, jacks, pinch bars, hand tools and cutting torches. Units are tested for operability before and after repairs and adjusted as needed, and steel or wood fittings are repaired, fabricated and installed from blueprints, shop sketches and instruction manuals. Air brake mechanic and air valve repairer are among the listed titles. Excluded from this code are bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031).
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Air Brake Adjuster, Air Brake Man, Air Brake Mechanic, Air Brake Rigger, Air Brake Worker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.50 | $26.21 | $32.46 | $40.66 | $45.72 | $33.98 | 21,350 |
| Annual | $46,800 | $54,520 | $67,530 | $84,570 | $95,100 | $70,680 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where rail car repairers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $39.15 | $39.38 | $52.25 | $52.25 | $57.24 | $48.58 | 770 | 0.21 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $81,430 | $81,900 | $108,680 | $108,680 | $119,060 | $101,040 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $31.13 | $35.73 | $43.00 | $49.78 | $49.78 | $41.63 | 560 | 0.20 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $64,740 | $74,320 | $89,430 | $103,540 | $103,540 | $86,590 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $25.43 | $32.98 | $42.05 | $42.05 | $43.52 | $37.81 | 230 | 0.12 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $52,900 | $68,600 | $87,470 | $87,470 | $90,510 | $78,650 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $28.46 | $35.62 | $41.65 | $43.39 | $54.24 | $39.88 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $59,190 | $74,090 | $86,630 | $90,260 | $112,820 | $82,940 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $22.17 | $25.56 | $41.07 | $41.07 | $41.07 | $35.06 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $46,120 | $53,170 | $85,420 | $85,420 | $85,420 | $72,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.22 | $24.91 | $28.53 | $30.49 | $37.99 | $28.72 | 2,690 | 0.19 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $46,210 | $51,810 | $59,330 | $63,420 | $79,020 | $59,740 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.95 | $31.84 | $40.66 | $45.45 | $46.24 | $38.24 | 1,850 | 0.30 | 2.21 |
| Annual | $49,820 | $66,220 | $84,570 | $94,530 | $96,170 | $79,540 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $27.25 | $35.00 | $40.67 | $46.45 | $52.42 | $40.47 | 1,730 | 0.18 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $56,680 | $72,800 | $84,580 | $96,620 | $109,040 | $84,170 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,130 | 1.11 | 8.07 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $24.00 | $29.00 | $30.88 | $38.23 | $43.28 | $33.81 | 980 | 0.20 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $49,930 | $60,320 | $64,230 | $79,520 | $90,020 | $70,330 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $31.82 | $35.90 | $49.78 | $49.78 | $49.78 | $45.04 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $66,190 | $74,680 | $103,540 | $103,540 | $103,540 | $93,690 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $27.25 | $35.00 | $44.35 | $52.42 | $52.42 | $41.54 | 800 | 0.08 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $56,680 | $72,800 | $92,250 | $109,040 | $109,040 | $86,410 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $25.50 | $33.56 | $43.00 | $43.00 | $43.00 | $38.53 | 230 | 0.17 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $53,050 | $69,790 | $89,430 | $89,430 | $89,430 | $80,150 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $37.93 | $42.05 | $42.05 | $43.52 | $43.52 | $41.42 | 150 | 0.12 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $78,890 | $87,470 | $87,470 | $90,510 | $90,510 | $86,150 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $18.76 | $31.00 | $36.96 | $43.22 | $43.22 | $33.69 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $39,020 | $64,470 | $76,870 | $89,890 | $89,890 | $70,080 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $27.25 | $35.00 | $44.35 | $52.42 | $52.42 | $41.54 | 800 | 0.08 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $56,680 | $72,800 | $92,250 | $109,040 | $109,040 | $86,410 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $22.55 | $26.65 | $28.51 | $28.89 | $29.68 | $27.48 | 790 | 0.24 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $46,910 | $55,430 | $59,310 | $60,090 | $61,740 | $57,160 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.59 | $23.89 | $29.93 | $45.33 | $45.33 | $32.48 | 570 | 0.13 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $44,910 | $49,690 | $62,250 | $94,280 | $94,280 | $67,570 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.59 | $27.60 | $28.76 | $29.28 | $30.01 | $27.78 | 370 | 0.09 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $46,980 | $57,400 | $59,820 | $60,900 | $62,410 | $57,780 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $31.82 | $35.90 | $49.78 | $49.78 | $49.78 | $45.04 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $66,190 | $74,680 | $103,540 | $103,540 | $103,540 | $93,690 | ||||
Top industries employing rail car repairers
Rail Transportation employ 52.0% of rail car repairers nationally (11,110 jobs) at a median $80,320 a year ($38.62 an hour), followed by Support Activities for Rail Transportation (29.7%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (7.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation NAICS 482100 | 11,110 | 52.0% | $80,320 | $38.62 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation NAICS 488200 | 6,350 | 29.7% | $55,700 | $26.78 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,590 | 7.4% | $92,250 | $44.35 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing NAICS 336500 | 720 | 3.4% | $51,580 | $24.80 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 640 | 3.0% | $92,230 | $44.34 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (21,350). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,250 for rail car repairers in May 2021 and $67,530 in May 2025, with employment of 22,800 and 21,350.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,250 | $28.97 | 22,800 |
| May 2022 | $62,510 | $30.05 | 19,830 |
| May 2023 | $65,030 | $31.27 | 19,480 |
| May 2024 | $65,680 | $31.58 | 18,300 |
| May 2025 | $67,530 | $32.46 | 21,350 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
41 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $52.25 | $108,680 | $81,430 | $119,060 | 770 | 0.21 | 1.54 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $43.00 | $89,430 | $64,740 | $103,540 | 560 | 0.20 | 1.48 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $42.05 | $87,470 | $52,900 | $90,510 | 230 | 0.12 | 0.85 |
| 4 | Colorado profile | $41.65 | $86,630 | $59,190 | $112,820 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.63 |
| 5 | Idaho profile | $41.07 | $85,420 | $46,120 | $85,420 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| 6 | New York profile | $40.67 | $84,580 | $56,680 | $109,040 | 1,730 | 0.18 | 1.30 |
| 7 | Illinois profile | $40.66 | $84,570 | $49,820 | $96,170 | 1,850 | 0.30 | 2.21 |
| 8 | Utah profile | $40.38 | $83,980 | $48,880 | $103,080 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.41 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $40.25 | $83,720 | $58,680 | $83,870 | 210 | 0.05 | 0.37 |
| 10 | Arizona profile | $39.05 | $81,230 | $46,360 | $95,010 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.37 |
| 11 | Delaware profile | $37.93 | $78,900 | $51,830 | $95,100 | 130 | 0.27 | 1.99 |
| 12 | New Jersey profile | $37.86 | $78,750 | $65,260 | $84,360 | 410 | 0.10 | 0.70 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $37.40 | $77,800 | $42,610 | $88,620 | 170 | 0.06 | 0.41 |
| 14 | South Dakota profile | $34.50 | $71,750 | $46,250 | $79,060 | 90 | 0.20 | 1.48 |
| 15 | California profile | $32.87 | $68,370 | $49,910 | $115,840 | 700 | 0.04 | 0.28 |
| 16 | Missouri profile | $32.83 | $68,290 | $45,020 | $70,980 | 220 | 0.07 | 0.54 |
| 17 | New Mexico profile | $32.47 | $67,550 | $52,020 | $85,470 | 120 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $30.95 | $64,370 | $38,700 | $83,370 | 370 | 0.08 | 0.61 |
| 19 | Georgia profile | $30.88 | $64,230 | $49,930 | $90,020 | 980 | 0.20 | 1.46 |
| 20 | Washington profile | $30.49 | $63,410 | $49,810 | $80,190 | 180 | 0.05 | 0.37 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.98 | $62,350 | $49,640 | $79,050 | 970 | 0.16 | 1.16 |
| 22 | Florida profile | $29.93 | $62,260 | $40,500 | $66,820 | 410 | 0.04 | 0.30 |
| 23 | Iowa profile | $29.11 | $60,550 | $46,090 | $84,910 | 340 | 0.22 | 1.61 |
| 24 | Oklahoma profile | $29.10 | $60,540 | $45,650 | $81,180 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.40 |
| 25 | Indiana profile | $29.08 | $60,490 | $40,880 | $84,890 | 670 | 0.21 | 1.53 |
| 26 | Maine profile | $28.89 | $60,090 | $42,600 | $94,310 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.74 |
| 27 | Tennessee profile | $28.89 | $60,090 | $47,480 | $80,400 | 320 | 0.10 | 0.70 |
| 28 | Kentucky profile | $28.57 | $59,430 | $39,950 | $80,350 | 770 | 0.39 | 2.81 |
| 29 | Texas profile | $28.53 | $59,330 | $46,210 | $79,020 | 2,690 | 0.19 | 1.39 |
| 30 | Wyoming profile | $28.39 | $59,040 | $47,180 | $86,970 | 250 | 0.90 | 6.57 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $28.30 | $58,870 | $44,490 | $88,010 | 220 | 0.07 | 0.54 |
| 32 | Alabama profile | $27.93 | $58,080 | $37,220 | $77,990 | 280 | 0.13 | 0.96 |
| 33 | Arkansas profile | $25.87 | $53,810 | $36,230 | $85,100 | 340 | 0.26 | 1.90 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $25.71 | $53,480 | $49,900 | $64,840 | 690 | 0.13 | 0.91 |
| 35 | West Virginia profile | $24.42 | $50,800 | $45,190 | $59,580 | 100 | 0.15 | 1.06 |
| 36 | Kansas profile | $23.15 | $48,160 | $38,830 | $87,190 | 300 | 0.21 | 1.54 |
| 37 | Nevada profile | $23.13 | $48,100 | $39,110 | $87,080 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.25 |
| 38 | Louisiana profile | $23.06 | $47,970 | $47,320 | $77,440 | 190 | 0.10 | 0.70 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $45,120 | $76,870 | 350 | 0.07 | 0.51 |
| 40 | Mississippi profile | $22.83 | $47,480 | $35,920 | $77,780 | 320 | 0.28 | 2.01 |
| – | Nebraska profile | * | * | * | * | 1,130 | 1.11 | 8.07 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-3040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-3043 Rail Car Repairers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-3043, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3043.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.