How to become a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator

Q: How do I become a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator?

The typical entry-level education is usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..

Q: How much does a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator make?

The median pay in the United States is $70,070 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025).

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.

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.Typical entry-level education

$70,070Median pay a year

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators do

Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
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.

Skills that matter most

Active Listening
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Active Learning
Learning Strategies
Reading Comprehension
Writing

Is rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 37% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

Massachusetts $94,330
Maryland $92,030
New York $87,150
Virginia $84,750
New Mexico $83,370

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.