Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$73,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$8,000
10.8% of base
Total target cash
$81,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$5,00050th$8,00075th$13,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:TroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Rail Car Repairer pay by experience level
Entry level$48,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$56,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$70,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$87,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$98,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,500
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Rail Car Repairer salary by industry
Rail Transportation
11,110 workers
$80,000
Rail Transportation
11,110 workers
$80,000
Support Activities for Transportation
6,490 workers
$57,500
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
6,350 workers
$57,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
2,240 workers
$94,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,590 workers
$93,000
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
720 workers
$55,500
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing
720 workers
$55,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
640 workers
$99,500
Support Activities for Water Transportation
120 workers
$56,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
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