Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in the U.S.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $70,070 a year ($33.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,420 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $68,740, close to the median.
Pay range for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| 25th percentile | $51,280 | $24.65 |
| Median | $70,070 | $33.69 |
| 75th percentile | $81,670 | $39.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,420 | $42.03 |
| Average (mean) | $68,740 | $33.05 |
Half of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,839.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,919.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,695 |
| Weekly | $1,347.50 |
| Hourly | $33.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,070 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,330 | 570 |
| Maryland | $92,030 | 320 |
| New York | $87,150 | 3,590 |
| Virginia | $84,750 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $83,370 | 80 |
| Delaware | $80,610 | 130 |
| Montana | $79,170 | 200 |
| Idaho | $79,020 | 90 |
| Illinois | $78,910 | 1,190 |
| Indiana | $78,020 | 320 |
| Arizona | $76,620 | 170 |
| Michigan | $75,450 | 290 |
| Kentucky | $73,120 | 270 |
| South Carolina | $71,770 | 30 |
| Wyoming | $71,580 | 220 |
| California | $71,170 | 770 |
| New Jersey | $66,540 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $66,390 | 260 |
| South Dakota | $64,500 | 110 |
| Missouri | $64,390 | 410 |
| Colorado | $64,300 | 300 |
| Utah | $63,190 | 60 |
| Georgia | $63,010 | 710 |
| Oklahoma | $61,860 | 310 |
| Florida | $61,220 | 490 |
| Arkansas | $60,230 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,800 | 830 |
| Washington | $58,740 | 500 |
| Kansas | $58,590 | 310 |
| Nevada | $56,740 | 40 |
| West Virginia | $56,660 | 270 |
| Texas | $56,470 | 940 |
| Oregon | $50,930 | 190 |
| Minnesota | $49,640 | 760 |
| Ohio | $47,980 | 1,130 |
| Wisconsin | $47,920 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $47,700 | 270 |
| Iowa | $45,640 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $44,150 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $87,410 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,150 | 2,710 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $85,240 | 280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,280 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $65,060 | 130 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $62,030 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,050 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,120 | 220 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $59,390 | 160 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $59,110 | 40 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $56,470 | 100 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $52,900 | 180 |
| Longview, TX | $50,140 | 90 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $48,150 | n/a |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,090 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,710 | $87,150 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 280 | $85,240 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 220 | $60,120 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 180 | $52,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 160 | $59,390 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 130 | $65,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 100 | $56,470 |
| Longview, TX | 90 | $50,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 90 | $75,280 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 50 | $87,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 50 | $62,030 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 40 | $59,110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 30 | $61,050 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| Fence Erector | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 | $52.84 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in the U.S. is $70,070 a year, or $33.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in the U.S. earn at least $87,420 a year. The top 25% earn $81,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,640 a year, and a quarter of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn $51,280 or less.
How many Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators work in the U.S.?
About 19,580 Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.