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Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$67370	1100	1.6%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$67370

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

1100

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

1.6%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration

Detailed Work Activities

Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
Clean equipment or facilities.
Maintain mechanical equipment.
Maintain construction tools or equipment.
Cut metal components for installation.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Drill holes in construction materials.
Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools.
Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
Compact materials to create level bases.
Apply sealants or other protective coatings.
Cut wood components for installation.
Apply paint to surfaces.
Weld metal components.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders.
Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.
String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled.
Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails.
Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications.
Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved.
Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails.
Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings.
Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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