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.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary by state
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is a professional role in the Construction and Extraction job family, focused on Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlTroubleshootingEquipment MaintenanceRepairingQuality Control Analysis
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary by industry
Sectors 48 and 49 – Transportation and Warehousing
14,000 workers
$69,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
4,060 workers
$81,000
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,750 workers
$81,000
Construction
1,390 workers
$61,000
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
300 workers
$82,500
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
100 workers
$67,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pays 11% above the average across 60 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $64,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
How much does a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators make?
The average base salary for a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in the United States is $71,000 per year, or about $34.13 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $53,000 and $84,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Construction and Extraction roles?
The Construction and Extraction job family averages $64,000 across 60 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
