Occupations/47-4061.00
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
35%
More resilient
Human characteristics
62%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
60%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- Mostly routine
Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- Task
Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- 02Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- 03Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
- 04Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
- 05Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- 06Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.30
- Degree of automation2.15
- Time sitting2.36
- Originality (ability)2.25
- Conflict situations2.71
- Hands-on objects/tools4.35
- Outdoors / weather4.95
- Disease exposure1.57
- Decision freedom4.00
Top abilities
- Control Precision3.88
- Multilimb Coordination3.75
- Manual Dexterity3.75
- Reaction Time3.62
- Problem Sensitivity3.62
- Far Vision3.62
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.62
- Visualization3.38
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension2.38
- Active Listening3.00
- Writing2.25
- Speaking2.88
- Mathematics2.25
- Science1.25
- Critical Thinking3.12
- Active Learning2.62
- Learning Strategies2.50
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
2 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation 49.0202 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 49.02 |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public | Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation 49.0202 | $5,800 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 49.02 |