CareerFacts

All careers › Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Track laborer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$70,070median pay per year, or $33.69 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,28025th percentile
  3. $70,070median
  4. $81,67075th percentile
  5. $87,420top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators was $70,070 a year in May 2025, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][2]. The usual entry route is a high school diploma and on-the-job training[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.5%[5]
Openings per year
1,200[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[3]

How much do track laborers make?

Track laborer is one of the job titles workers report in the BLS category Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators[7]. In May 2025, the median wage was $70,070 a year, or $33.69 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average (mean) wage was $68,740 a year, or $33.05 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,640 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $51,280[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $81,670, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $87,420[4]. Hourly, those four lines were $21.94, $24.65, $39.27 and $42.03[9]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

The median for all occupations was $50,980[2]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 19,580 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Massachusetts had the highest median wage at $94,330, followed by Maryland at $92,030, New York at $87,150 and Virginia at $84,750[13]. Louisiana was last among the published states at $44,150[13].

New York had the most jobs, with 3,590[14]. Illinois (1,190), Ohio (1,130), Texas (940) and Pennsylvania (830) came next[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median at $87,150[15]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH followed at $85,240, and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA was third at $65,060[15]. The New York area also had the most jobs, at 2,710[16].

Show median pay in 39 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[13]$94,330570
Maryland$92,030320
New York$87,1503,590
Virginia$84,750360
New Mexico$83,37080
Delaware$80,610130
Montana$79,170200
Idaho$79,02090
Illinois$78,9101,190
Indiana$78,020320
Arizona$76,620170
Michigan$75,450290
Kentucky$73,120270
South Carolina$71,77030
Wyoming$71,580220
California$71,170770
New Jersey$66,540230
Tennessee$66,390260
South Dakota$64,500110
Missouri$64,390410
Colorado$64,300300
Utah$63,19060
Georgia$63,010710
Oklahoma$61,860310
Florida$61,220490
Arkansas$60,230150
Pennsylvania$59,800830
Washington$58,740500
Kansas$58,590310
Nevada$56,74040
West Virginia$56,660270
Texas$56,470940
Oregon$50,930190
Minnesota$49,640760
Ohio$47,9801,130
Wisconsin$47,920180
North Carolina$47,700270
Iowa$45,640200
Louisiana$44,150n/a

How to become a track laborer

BLS lists the typical path into this occupation as follows[3]:

O*NET places the job in a group where some jobs need little or no previous experience and others need several months to a year[17]. The facts we use do not give the exact length of training or any license requirements.

What track laborers do

According to O*NET, these workers lay, repair and maintain railroad track, including track used in plant yards, quarries and mines. The group includes ballast cleaning machine operators and tamping machine operators[18]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include track maintainer, track inspector, track repairer and track equipment operator[7].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,400 to 17,700 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[20].

BLS projects about 1,200 openings a year on average[6]. These include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.5% move to a different occupation[21].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the entry route is a high school diploma plus on-the-job training with no prior experience[1][2][3]. Pay varies a lot by state, from $44,150 in Louisiana to $94,330 in Massachusetts[13]. Growth is slower than the average for all occupations, at 1.5% against 3.5%, though about 1,200 openings a year are projected[5][20][6]. The facts we use do not describe schedules or working conditions, so ask employers about those.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[22].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a track laborer make an hour?
The median was $33.69 an hour in May 2025 for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators[1].
What education do you need to be a track laborer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with moderate-term on-the-job training and no prior experience[3].
Is track laborer work in demand?
BLS projects 1.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 1,200 openings a year[5][20][6].
What is the highest paying state for track laborers?
Massachusetts, with a median of $94,330 in May 2025[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in the US was $70,070 per year and $33.69 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators: 10th percentile $45,640, 25th percentile $51,280, 75th percentile $81,670, 90th percentile $87,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is projected to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,400 to 17,700 jobs (a change of +300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,200 openings for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 47-4061.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Machine Operator, Track Equipment Operator (TEO), Track Inspector, Track Laborer, Track Maintainer, Track Repair Person, Track Repairer, Track Service Person. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators was $68,740 per year and $33.05 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators: 10th percentile $21.94, 25th percentile $24.65, 75th percentile $39.27, 90th percentile $42.03. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 19,580 people were employed as Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators jobs: New York 3,590; Illinois 1,190; Ohio 1,130; Texas 940; Pennsylvania 830. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $87,150; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $85,240; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $65,060; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $60,120; Pittsburgh, PA $59,390; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $56,470; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $52,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,710 (median $87,150); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 280 (median $85,240); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 220 (median $60,120); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 180 (median $52,900); Pittsburgh, PA 160 (median $59,390); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 130 (median $65,060). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 47-4061.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.