SOC 474061

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

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.

National Median

$67,370

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$67,370

Entry Level (10th pct)

$45,720

Experienced (90th pct)

$84,840

Total Employed

16,480

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$45,720 - $51,630
Mid Career2-8 years experience$51,630 - $79,330
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$79,330 - $84,840

Highest Paying Locations for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 48 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
Maryland$90,410290
Delaware$86,33090
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$84,8402,540
New York$84,8403,330
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$84,800200
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$84,00060
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$82,91040
Massachusetts$82,840390
Indiana$79,320510
Iowa$79,240190
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$78,280480
Illinois$76,930960
Arizona$75,770180
New Mexico$74,46090
Wisconsin$70,870110
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$70,64090
Kansas$69,990280
Wyoming$69,690180
Missouri$69,610120
California$69,260560
Arkansas$68,95080
Montana$67,050150
Pennsylvania$65,120560
Washington$64,950410
New Jersey$64,840240
South Dakota$64,55070
Colorado$63,290200
Idaho$62,81090
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$62,02030
Utah$61,520110
Tennessee$61,290350
Nevada$60,96030
Florida$60,860580
Georgia$60,660370
Virginia$60,460N/A
Oregon$60,380140
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$57,60040
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$56,22060
Texas$56,0401,160
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$56,040140
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$54,400250
Alabama$48,970220
Longview, TX$48,880100
Minnesota$48,490430
Kentucky$47,990200
West Virginia$47,330200
Ohio$47,160980
North Carolina$45,760290

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators?
The national median annual salary for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is $67,370, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss is Maryland, with a median salary of $90,410.
How much can an experienced Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators make?
Top-earning Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss (90th percentile) make $84,840 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.