Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in South Dakota
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in South Dakota earn a median of $64,500 a year ($31.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,150 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $70,070. South Dakota ranks 19th of 39 states for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators pay. There are 0.25 Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,120, close to the median.
Pay range for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,890 | $23.03 |
| 25th percentile | $62,940 | $30.26 |
| Median | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 75th percentile | $66,130 | $31.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,150 | $35.17 |
| Average (mean) | $62,120 | $29.87 |
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 | $5,375 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,687.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480.77 |
| Weekly | $1,240.38 |
| Hourly | $31.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,330 |
| Maryland | $92,030 |
| New York | $87,150 |
| Virginia | $84,750 |
| New Mexico | $83,370 |
| Delaware | $80,610 |
| Montana | $79,170 |
| Idaho | $79,020 |
| Illinois | $78,910 |
| Indiana | $78,020 |
See Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $51,420 | $24.72 |
| Fence Erector | $48,380 | $23.26 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $116,320 | $55.92 |
| Carpenter | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Electrician | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,500 | $28.61 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $51,620 | $24.82 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $48,160 | $23.15 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in South Dakota is $64,500 a year, or $31.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in South Dakota earn at least $73,150 a year. The top 25% earn $66,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,890 a year, and a quarter of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn $62,940 or less.
How many Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators work in South Dakota?
About 110 Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.