Also called: Rail Grinder Operator, Rail Profile Grinding Technician
Runs giant train-sized machines that grind railroad rails back into the right shape, throwing showers of sparks.
At night your rail grinder crawls along the track with dozens of spinning stones grinding the rail tops. Sparks fly as you watch screens to keep the rail profile right and a crew sprays water to prevent fires.
Estimated; lots of overtime and travel.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school plus on-the-job training.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: None required, Diesel Technology.
Growing about average. Grinding extends rail life, so railroads keep doing it.
Low risk for 10 years. Grinders get more automated, but crews still run and fix them on the road.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to rail maintenance contractors (like Loram or Harsco) for entry operator jobs
Classes: Auto shop, Physics, Welding.
Official data: O*NET occupation 47-4061.
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.