About This Career Path
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Transportation, Logistics & Distribution
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Transportation, Logistics & Distribution Industry
Rail Car Repairers
Average
$48,470
ANNUAL
$23.30
HOURLY
Entry Level
$37,000
ANNUAL
$17.79
HOURLY
Mid Level
$47,320
ANNUAL
$22.75
HOURLY
Expert Level
$61,750
ANNUAL
$29.69
HOURLY
Rail Car Repairers
250
Projected job openings through 2030
Rail Car Repairers
01
Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
02
Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
03
Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
04
Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
05
Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
06
Test units for operability before and after repairs.
07
Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
08
Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
09
Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems.
10
Disassemble units such as water pumps, control valves, and compressors so that repairs can be made.
11
Measure diameters of axle wheel seats, using micrometers, and mark dimensions on axles so that wheels can be bored to specified dimensions.
Rail Car Repairers
Common knowledge, skills & abilities needed to get a foot in the door.
KNOWLEDGE
Mechanical
KNOWLEDGE
Production and Processing
KNOWLEDGE
Design
KNOWLEDGE
Administration and Management
KNOWLEDGE
Building and Construction
SKILL
Repairing
SKILL
Troubleshooting
SKILL
Equipment Maintenance
SKILL
Critical Thinking
SKILL
Operations Monitoring
ABILITY
Arm-Hand Steadiness
ABILITY
Control Precision
ABILITY
Manual Dexterity
ABILITY
Multilimb Coordination
ABILITY
Finger Dexterity
Transportation, Logistics & Distribution
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