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Career

Rail Car Repairers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $67,530 Median per year · $32.46/hr Most earn $46,800–$95,100

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
  • Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
  • Paint car exteriors, interiors, and fixtures.
  • Repair window sash frames, attach weather stripping and channels to frames, and replace window glass, using hand tools.
  • Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
  • Disassemble units such as water pumps, control valves, and compressors so that repairs can be made.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 1,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Rail transportation44.8%
  • Support activities for rail transportation33.5%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals8.1%
  • Railroad rolling stock manufacturing3.7%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals3.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. You can often start with a high school diploma and learn most of the work on the job, usually within a few months of related experience.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a foundation in math, shop, and mechanical classes, which employers look for when hiring people to work on heavy equipment.

  2. Rail Yard Helper

    3-6 months

    Work as a helper in a rail yard or repair shop, handling parts, cleaning, and basic tasks while you learn how railcars are inspected and fixed.

  3. Rail Car Repairer

    Career entry point

    Diagnose, adjust, repair, and overhaul railroad, mine, or transit rail cars, learning the rest of the skills on the job under experienced repairers.

Where it can lead

  1. Industrial Machinery Mechanic

    1-2 years of experience first

    Move from railcars to maintaining factory and plant machinery, which takes broader troubleshooting skills and often more formal training.

  2. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic

    1-2 years of experience first

    Work on construction and mining equipment, which requires deeper knowledge of hydraulics, engines, and diagnostic tools.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop and math classesShop builds hands-on skills with tools, and math helps with measurements and reading technical specs.
  • Join a robotics or engine clubWorking on machines in a team shows you enjoy troubleshooting and fixing things.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer at a garage or machine shopAny work around tools and equipment builds comfort and shows employers you're reliable.
  • Learn basic welding or safety certifications if offeredEarly certifications make you a stronger candidate for entry-level shop work.
  • Ask a local railroad or transit worker about their jobA conversation can show you what a typical day looks like and whether it suits you.

In college

  • Take courses in mechanical or industrial technologyClasses in machinery, hydraulics, or electrical systems prepare you for the diagnostic work repairers do every day.
  • Look for a part-time job or internship at a rail yard, transit agency, or heavy equipment shopReal shop experience is the fastest way to learn the job and stand out to employers.
  • Earn a welding or safety certificationCertifications show employers you can do specific tasks safely and make you more competitive for entry-level roles.
  • Join a skilled trades or engineering student clubClubs build teamwork and problem-solving skills and connect you with people already working in the field.
  • Practice clear written and verbal communicationRepairers often write up inspection findings and work with crews, so clear reporting matters.

Tips for getting started

  • Take shop, welding, or auto/diesel classes if your school offers them, since hands-on mechanical skills are what rail yards look for.
  • Look for summer or part-time jobs at local rail yards, transit agencies, or repair shops, even as a helper, to get your foot in the door.
  • Learn to stay safe around heavy equipment and follow lockout and safety rules, because safety habits matter a lot in this job.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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