Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
- O*NET-SOC code
47-4061.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$70,070
Employment, U.S.19,580
Median hourly wage$33.69
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45,640 | $51,280 | $70,070 | $81,670 | $87,420 |
By state (40)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 170 | $76,620 | 0.41 |
| Arkansas | 150 | $60,230 | 0.89 |
| California | 770 | $71,170 | 0.34 |
| Colorado | 300 | $64,300 | 0.83 |
| Delaware | 130 | $80,610 | 2.17 |
| Florida | 490 | $61,220 | 0.39 |
| Georgia | 710 | $63,010 | 1.15 |
| Idaho | 90 | $79,020 | 0.79 |
| Illinois | 1,190 | $78,910 | 1.55 |
| Indiana | 320 | $78,020 | 0.79 |
| Iowa | 200 | $45,640 | 1.04 |
| Kansas | 310 | $58,590 | 1.71 |
| Kentucky | 270 | $73,120 | 1.08 |
| Louisiana | $44,150 | ||
| Maryland | 320 | $92,030 | 0.91 |
| Massachusetts | 570 | $94,330 | 1.24 |
| Michigan | 290 | $75,450 | 0.53 |
| Minnesota | 760 | $49,640 | 2.05 |
| Mississippi | 310 | Not available | 2.09 |
| Missouri | 410 | $64,390 | 1.10 |
| Montana | 200 | $79,170 | 3.13 |
| Nevada | 40 | $56,740 | 0.21 |
| New Jersey | 230 | $66,540 | 0.42 |
| New Mexico | 80 | $83,370 | 0.77 |
| New York | 3,590 | $87,150 | 2.94 |
| North Carolina | 270 | $47,700 | 0.44 |
| Ohio | 1,130 | $47,980 | 1.61 |
| Oklahoma | 310 | $61,860 | 1.46 |
| Oregon | 190 | $50,930 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 830 | $59,800 | 1.09 |
| South Carolina | 30 | $71,770 | 0.11 |
| South Dakota | 110 | $64,500 | 1.96 |
| Tennessee | 260 | $66,390 | 0.62 |
| Texas | 940 | $56,470 | 0.53 |
| Utah | 60 | $63,190 | 0.28 |
| Virginia | 360 | $84,750 | 0.70 |
| Washington | 500 | $58,740 | 1.11 |
| West Virginia | 270 | $56,660 | 3.02 |
| Wisconsin | 180 | $47,920 | 0.49 |
| Wyoming | 220 | $71,580 | 6.35 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riggers | 1-2 | 0.966 |
| 2 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 1-2 | 0.961 |
| 3 | Highway Maintenance Workers | 1-2 | 0.961 |
| 4 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 1-2 | 0.955 |
| 5 | Pile Driver Operators | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 6 | Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 7 | Fence Erectors | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 8 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 1-2 | 0.948 |
| 9 | Recycling and Reclamation Workers | 1-2 | 0.947 |
| 10 | Millwrights | 1-2 | 0.947 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.944 |
| Rail Car Repairers | Repairing | 1.00 | 0.942 |
| Pipelayers | Speaking | 0.76 | 0.937 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Reading Comprehension | 0.76 | 0.934 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.933 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | Speaking | 0.76 | 0.932 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators, excluding software Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Global positioning system GPS software | 3 of 20 | 4.1x |
| Inventory tracking software | 3 of 20 | 3.1x |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | 4 of 20 | 1.1x |
| SAP software | 5 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Email software | 4 of 20 | 0.7x |
| Microsoft Windows | 3 of 20 | 0.6x |
| Microsoft Outlook | 10 of 20 | 0.7x |
| Web browser software | 4 of 20 | 0.4x |
| Microsoft Word | 13 of 20 | 0.8x |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 6 of 20 | 0.4x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.25 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.25 | not rated |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 3.82 | 4.27 |
| Transportation | 3.75 | 4.62 |
| Mechanical | 3.72 | 4.04 |
| Production and Processing | 3.58 | 4.32 |
| Mathematics | 3.52 | 3.79 |
| Building and Construction | 3.47 | 4.37 |
| Education and Training | 3.36 | 4.06 |
| English Language | 3.28 | 3.64 |
| Administration and Management | 3.21 | 3.71 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.14 | 4.36 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.06 | 3.75 |
| Physics | 3.05 | 3.36 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 3.01 | 3.20 |
| Design | 2.76 | 2.87 |
| Administrative | 2.73 | 2.43 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.71 | 2.99 |
| Telecommunications | 2.56 | 2.29 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.42 | 2.46 |
| Communications and Media | 2.36 | 2.54 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.34 | 2.75 |
| Law and Government | 2.26 | 1.80 |
| Geography | 2.06 | 1.46 |
| Psychology | 1.69 | 1.47 |
| Chemistry | 1.68 | 1.10 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.64 | 0.71 |
| Foreign Language | 1.58 | 1.49 |
| Food Production | 1.56 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.52 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.45 | 0.78 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.42 | 1.02 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.40 | not rated |
| Biology | 1.22 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.08 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Reaction Time | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.75 | 3.00 |
| Control Precision | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Far Vision | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Depth Perception | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Trunk Strength | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Visualization | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Near Vision | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Static Strength | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Rate Control | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Auditory Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Oral Expression | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Response Orientation | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Stamina | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Extent Flexibility | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Written Comprehension | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Spatial Orientation | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.75 | 2.25 |
| Speech Clarity | 2.75 | 2.12 |
| Category Flexibility | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Written Expression | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Number Facility | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Peripheral Vision | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Memorization | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Explosive Strength | 2.12 | 1.75 |
| Sound Localization | 2.12 | 1.62 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.00 | 2.25 |
| Night Vision | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Originality | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.25 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Timekeeping software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,710 | 2.27 | $87,150 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 160 | 1.13 | $59,390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 280 | 0.82 | $85,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 130 | 0.62 | $65,060 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 180 | 0.43 | $52,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 220 | 0.39 | $60,120 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 100 | 0.20 | $56,470 |