Occupation · SOC 49-3043
Rail Car Repairers
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Median wage
$65,680
$45,670–$92,000
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
18,300
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
26 mapped
Core skills
TroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingOperation and ControlSpeakingActive ListeningWritingTime ManagementReading ComprehensionMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessEquipment SelectionComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisLearning StrategiesInstallationManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationMathematicsTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesScienceOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesProgramming
Knowledge areas
MechanicalProduction and ProcessingDesignAdministration and ManagementBuilding and ConstructionEngineering and TechnologyTransportationMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguagePhysicsAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesTelecommunicationsMedicine and DentistryChemistrySales and MarketingPsychologyCommunications and MediaForeign LanguageFood ProductionSociology and AnthropologyGeographyPhilosophy and TheologyTherapy and CounselingBiologyHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatDisassembler softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordMozilla FirefoxRailTech Software Solutions Rail 21 Management SystemRailTech Software Systems Mars for the 21st CenturyWheelShop Automation.com Wheel Shop Management Suite
Representative tasks
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGetting InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkControlling Machines and ProcessesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesTraining and Teaching OthersRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDocumenting/Recording InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeThinking CreativelyJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleAnalyzing Data or InformationProcessing InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesCoaching and Developing OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesWorking with ComputersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Rail car exterior and interior surfaces — inspect under direct supervision to identify visible defects and damage in a rail yard environment.Basic hand tools and torque wrenches — select and use under guidance to perform simple part replacements on stationary rail cars.Repair and maintenance records — complete using provided templates under supervisor direction to document observed car conditions.Bearings, seals, and gaskets — recognize worn or damaged examples when shown by a lead repairer during scheduled inspections.Safety protocols and personal protective equipment — follow without deviation during all rail yard repair tasks under direct oversight.Coupler assemblies and wheel components — identify by name and location on a rail car while assisting an experienced technician.Pneumatic hoists and jacks — operate under close supervision to assist in lifting mechanical units during component removal.Shop sketches and instruction manuals — read basic diagrams to locate parts and understand assembly sequences with supervisor assistance.Pre- and post-repair operability checklists — apply under direction to verify that serviced components meet basic functional standards.Active listening skills — demonstrate by receiving and accurately following verbal repair instructions from senior rail car repairers on the shop floor.
developing
Interior and exterior rail car inspections — conduct independently using established checklists to identify defects and assess wear in a busy rail yard.Defective bearings, pistons, and gears — repair or replace using hand tools, power tools, and torque wrenches with minimal oversight on routine maintenance jobs.Repair documentation and maintenance logs — maintain accurately in document management or inventory software to reflect completed and pending work orders.Cutting torches and pinch bars — use safely to remove locomotive mechanical units or car components during scheduled overhaul cycles.Repaired or replaced units — adjust and calibrate following manufacturer specifications to confirm proper operation before returning cars to service.Steel and wood fittings — fabricate and install using blueprints and shop sketches under standard shop conditions with periodic supervisor review.Troubleshooting techniques — apply systematically to diagnose the root cause of mechanical failures in rail car systems encountered during routine inspections.Welding equipment — operate to repair structural or mechanical components on rail cars in accordance with shop safety standards and work orders.Seals and gasket assemblies — test for integrity after installation using prescribed pressure or leak-check procedures in the maintenance shop.Operations monitoring principles — use to track equipment behavior during functional tests and identify deviations that require further repair action.
proficient
Complex defects across multiple rail car systems — diagnose autonomously using critical thinking and mechanical knowledge during high-volume yard operations.Full-scope component repairs including bearings, couplers, and gears — execute without supervision across the complete range of car types in the fleet.Non-routine wear and damage patterns — evaluate independently to determine repair versus replacement decisions that balance cost and safety in a maintenance environment.Pneumatic hoists, cutting torches, and specialized power tools — coordinate and operate safely on complex removal and reinstallation tasks involving major mechanical units.Repair quality outcomes — verify through rigorous pre- and post-repair operability testing, applying quality control analysis to ensure cars meet operational standards.Blueprints, engineering drawings, and instruction manuals — interpret accurately to fabricate and install custom steel or wood fittings for non-standard repair scenarios.Maintenance records and work order data — analyze using spreadsheet and inventory management software to identify recurring failure trends across the rail car fleet.Welding and fabrication tasks — perform to code-level standards on structural rail car components, adapting technique to material condition and job requirements.Emerging mechanical issues — detect early through systematic operations monitoring during routine inspections, preventing in-service failures on the mainline.Technical repair procedures — communicate clearly to co-workers and supervisors using precise mechanical terminology during team briefings and shift handovers.
advanced
Shop-wide repair standards and inspection protocols — develop and implement to ensure consistent, high-quality maintenance outcomes across all rail car types in the facility.Junior and mid-level rail car repairers — mentor and coach on troubleshooting methods, tool usage, and safety practices to accelerate their on-the-job development.Maintenance scheduling and parts inventory strategies — design using inventory management and office suite software to minimize car downtime and control operational costs.Fleet-wide wear and failure data — synthesize and present to operations management, using data-driven recommendations to drive preventive maintenance improvements.Complex or unprecedented mechanical failures — lead diagnostic and repair efforts, drawing on deep mechanical and engineering knowledge to restore cars to service safely.Safety and quality compliance programs — establish and oversee for the repair shop, ensuring alignment with federal rail regulations and organizational standards.Cross-functional coordination with transportation and engineering teams — lead to align repair priorities with operational schedules and fleet reliability targets.New repair technologies, tools, and equipment — evaluate and introduce into shop practice, training staff and updating procedures to reflect best-in-class methods.Workforce performance and competency gaps — assess systematically across the maintenance team, designing targeted training plans to build critical repair capabilities.Incident investigations involving rail car mechanical failures — lead root-cause analysis efforts, producing formal reports and corrective action plans for organizational leadership.
Also known as
67 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Air Brake AdjusterAir Brake ManAir Brake MechanicAir Brake RiggerAir Brake WorkerAir Compressor MechanicAir Valve MechanicAir Valve RepairerBrake AdjusterBrake LinerBrake RelinerBrake Shoe RebuilderBrake SpecialistBreaker MechanicCoach MechanicCompressor MechanicController MechanicDrop Pit WorkerFreight Car BuilderFreight Car RepairerFreight Maintenance SpecialistFreight RepairerGearmanInterior MechanicInterlocker MaintainerInterlocking MechanicLocomotive RepairmanMachine OverhaulerMechanical Unit RepairerMine Car MechanicMine Car RepairerPlow MechanicPullman Car RepairerRail Car Maintenance MechanicRail Car MechanicRail Car Repair CarmanRail Car RepairerRail Car RepairmanRail Car SandblasterRail Car Welder