Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become a Rail Car Repairer

Official title: Rail Car Repairers

Also called: Freight Maintenance Specialist, Locomotive Repairman, Rail Car Maintenance Mechanic, Rail Car Mechanic, Rail Car Repairer, Rail Car Repairman, Rail Car Sandblaster, Rail Car Welder, Railroad Car Repairman, Train Car Repairman

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

Main tasks

Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
Test units for operability before and after repairs.
Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.

How to become one

Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a training program at a postsecondary institution.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Car Repairer (Railroad Equipment).
Apprenticeship: Mechanical-Unit Repairer.
Apprenticeship: Mine-Car Repairer.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $67,530 a year The middle half earn $54,520 to $84,570.
About 20,100 people work in this job now, and about 20,600 are projected by 2035. (+2.6%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Rail Car Repairer?

How much does a Rail Car Repairer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $67,530 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $54,520 to $84,570.

Is a Rail Car Repairer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 20,100 to about 20,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Rail Car Repairer?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Car Repairer (Railroad Equipment).

Will AI change the work of a Rail Car Repairer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.