Also called: Track & Structures Engineer, Rail Civil Engineer
Designs and maintains railroad tracks, bridges, and crossings so heavy trains run safely.
A rail engineer reviews track geometry data from inspection cars, designs a new rail yard, plans bridge repairs, and walks the track with maintenance crews.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in civil engineering; a PE license for senior roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Civil Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 17-2051: Faster than average (5% to 6%).
Low risk for 10 years. AI speeds design and inspection analysis; site work and PE-stamped track and bridge designs stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Geometry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2051.
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.