Also called: Section Hand, Trackman, Track Worker
Builds and maintains railroad track by hand and with small tools: replacing ties, spikes, and rail.
You work outside with a crew, pulling old spikes, moving ties, and repairing switches. It's hard physical work, but Class I railroad pay and benefits are good, and many climb to operator or foreman.
Estimated; short-line railroads pay less than Class I railroads.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma or less; on-the-job training.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Steady.
Medium risk for 10 years. Machines do more tie and rail work; hand crews are still needed, but smaller.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to railroads or track contractors for trackman or laborer jobs
Classes: PE or fitness, Construction CTE.
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.