Also called: Carman, Freight Car Mechanic
Inspects and repairs freight and passenger railcars: wheels, brakes, couplers, and bodies.
In a car shop you replace a worn wheelset, weld a cracked side sill, or fix an air brake that's sticking. You also inspect trains in the yard before they leave, walking along each car.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma plus on-the-job training; welding skills help.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Trade school, Apprenticeship. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Welding Technology, Industrial Maintenance.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Slow growth.
Low risk for 10 years. Wayside scanners flag worn wheels and brakes; welding and repairing cars stays hands-on.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to railcar repair shops or leasing companies as a repair helper
Classes: Welding CTE, Auto tech CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 49-3043.
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.