Locomotive & Rail Car Mechanic

Repairs the huge diesel-electric locomotives and rail cars that move freight and passengers.

A day in the life

You climb into the engine room of a 4,400-horsepower locomotive, replace a fuel injector, and test its traction motors.

Pay over a career

Starting
$45k
Typical
$65k
High
$85k

Strong railroad benefits and pension.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. Railroad training program; diesel or electrical coursework helps.

Ways in: On-the-job training, Trade school. Training cost: Get paid while you train.

Majors to look at: Diesel Technology.

Outlook

Growing slowly. No separate BLS projection for this specialty; rating is an estimate based on industry trends.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. Locomotive data predicts failures, but repairs on giant engines in rail shops stay hands-on.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Diesel or auto CTE, Physics, Electrical CTE.

Official data: O*NET occupation 49-3043.

More Automotive, Diesel & Engine Repair careers

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.