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
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 pay by experience level
Entry level$47,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$53,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$72,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$84,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$90,500
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
+1.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,100
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-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary by industry
Rail Transportation
12,360 workers
$71,000
Rail Transportation
12,360 workers
$71,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
4,060 workers
$81,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,750 workers
$81,000
Support Activities for Transportation
1,560 workers
$56,000
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
1,540 workers
$56,000
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
1,320 workers
$61,500
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
1,230 workers
$61,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
300 workers
$82,500
Mining (except Oil and Gas)
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 9% above the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
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 $65,000 across 63 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.
Need Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
