Also called: Thermite Welder, Track Welder
Joins sections of steel rail with thermite welding, which uses a fiery chemical reaction to melt steel.
A rail welder lines up two rail ends, clamps on a mold, ignites thermite that burns at over 4,000 degrees, then grinds the joint smooth so trains roll over it silently.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Railroad or contractor training; welding experience helps.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Trade school. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Welding Technology (trade school).
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 47-4061: Slower than average (1% to 2%).
Low risk for 10 years. Rail welding in the field is skilled handwork; machines only help.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to rail welding contractors as a welder helper; they qualify you on the job
Classes: Welding CTE, Chemistry.
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.