What do they do?

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

Also known as:

Air Brake Mechanic, Freight Car Repairer, 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, Repair Technician, Train Car Repairman

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Rail Car Repairers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • 7.6%

    Change

    Ranks #17 in job growth rate
    100

    Job Openings

    Ranks #8 in net job growth

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (4%)
  • Associate's degree  (13%)
  • Some college, no degree  (24%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (47%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (11%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Rail Car Repairers

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★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Maintain repair or maintenance records.
  • Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
  • Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Inspect vehicles to determine overall condition.
  • Remove parts or components from equipment.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Repair electronic equipment.
  • Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
  • Install vehicle parts or accessories.
  • Fabricate parts or components.
  • Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.
  • Measure distances or dimensions.
  • Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
  • Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
  • Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
  • Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Paint surfaces or equipment.
  • Rewire electrical or electronic systems.
  • Install hardware or other interior fixtures.
  • Repair structural components.
  • Seal gaps or cracks to prevent leakage or moisture intrusion.
  • Replace vehicle glass.
  • Align equipment or machinery.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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