Rail Car Repairers
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Also called: Air Brake Adjuster, Air Brake Man, Air Brake Mechanic, Air Brake Rigger, Air Brake Worker, Air Compressor Mechanic
Median pay
$67,530
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$46,800 – $95,100
People employed
21,350
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 5.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
Rail Car Repairers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (40 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What rail car repairers do
- 01Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
- 02Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
- 03Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
- 04Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
- 05Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- 06Test units for operability before and after repairs.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Administration and Management
- Building and Construction
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from rail car repairers
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery86% · −10%
- Millwrights85% · −3%
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics83% · −4%
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers83% · −20%
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers82% · −3%
Change into rail car repairers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers86% · $56,210
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers86% · $53,710
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery85% · $60,850
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators84% · $70,070
- Pile Driver Operators83% · $73,300
Majors that lead here
- Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.