Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
U.S. Workers
16,480
Median Salary
$67,370
10-Year Growth
+1.6%
Annual Openings
1,100
Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
26 of 26 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated inspection platforms (track-geometry vehicles, drones, sensors plus CV) can patrol track sections and detect/report damaged or broken rail reliably.
Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
AI: Fully automatable - Sensors and computer-vision systems can observe leveling indicators or directly measure track geometry to verify levelness and alignment autonomously.
Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated rail-cutting machines and saw attachments with sensors and CNC-like control can perform precise cuts to specified lengths, enabling full automation.
Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
AI: Fully automatable - Specialized tamping and ballast-regulating machines already perform cleaning, grading, and leveling to specification with onboard control systems, so this task is largely automatable.
Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
AI: Fully automatable - Onboard sensors and control systems allow automated adjustment of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track to given specifications, enabling full automation of control adjustments.
Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings.
AI: Fully automatable - Painting standardized signs is a low-variability, repetitive process easily handled by automated paint systems or robots and is widely automatable by 2025.
Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
AI: Partial - Repairing and adjusting switches requires fine manual manipulation, judgment, and ad-hoc interventions that remain largely dependent on human crews despite some mechanized tools.
Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
AI: Partial - Some rail-welding processes are mechanized, but specialized setups, quality control, and complex joints like frogs and switch points still require skilled human involvement.
Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
AI: Partial - Spike-driving is performed by mechanized machines that can be semi-autonomous, but setup, handling irregular ties, and operator oversight prevent full automation in 2025.
Operate track-wrench machines to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
AI: Partial - Many bolt-tightening operations are mechanized and can be automated, but variable field conditions and safety requirements still require human oversight.
String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled.
AI: Partial - Attaching guideline wires involves dexterous, variable routing and site judgement that can be aided by automation but not fully handled autonomously in typical field conditions as of 2025.
Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
AI: Partial - Rail drilling jigs and powered drills can be automated for repeatable holes, but field alignment, fixturing variability, and unexpected material conditions limit full autonomy.
Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
AI: Partial - Simple lubrication and fluid refilling can be mechanized with dispensers, but changing oils and dealing with irregular access points and exceptions still require human dexterity and judgment.
Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
AI: Partial - Bulk snow and ice removal is mechanized (plows, blowers, heaters) but variable conditions and delicate switch-box clearing often need human intervention, so only partial automation is realistic.
Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
AI: Partial - Rail lifting can be assisted or performed by mechanized lifters and hydraulic systems, but setup, alignment, and safety checks typically require human operators, limiting full automation.
Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
AI: Partial - Track-laying machines already include automatic gauge controls, but engaging and supervising the mechanisms and handling exceptions still require human intervention, so automation is partial.
Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails.
AI: Partial - Graders, tampers and ballast spreaders have semi-autonomous features for material redistribution, yet they need human operators for complex scenarios, quality checks, and safety, so capability is partial.
Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
AI: Partial - Vehicles that automatically move and lay track exist in advanced fleets, but fully autonomous end-to-end operation including site preparation, obstacle handling, and regulatory safety oversight is not broadly realized in 2025.
Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
AI: Partial - Portable grinding to dress switch points and frogs requires skilled judgment and adaptability to irregular wear, so robots can assist but generally cannot fully replace humans yet.
Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
AI: Partial - Cleaning and minor repairs vary widely in access, tools, and troubleshooting needs, so AI can assist with diagnostics and some tasks but not fully perform all repairs autonomously.
Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders.
AI: Partial - Handheld rail-end grinding requires fine manual positioning and adaptation to variable field conditions so automation can assist or do parts of the job but full autonomous replacement is not generally reliable in 2025.
Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.
AI: Partial - Mechanical spike pullers are frequently power-assisted and can be roboticized for parts of the workflow, but operators are still typically required for setup, safety oversight, and dealing with irregular ties or damaged spikes.
Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications.
AI: Partial - Adjusting guideline wheels via levers is a straightforward control task that can be automated, but variable alignment conditions and safety considerations mean AI typically provides assisted rather than fully autonomous operation today.
Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved.
AI: Partial - Actuating grasping devices is a low-complexity control action that automation can perform, however safe handling, precise positioning, and exception management still commonly require human supervision in the field.
Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails.
AI: Partial - Tie-adzing involves cutting and close-proximity work with highly varying timber conditions and safety risks so automation can assist or handle repetitive parts but cannot yet fully replace skilled operators in typical deployments.
Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering.
AI: Partial - Applying protective spray is a simple repetitive physical task that can be mechanized but in 2025 still typically requires human setup, oversight, or specialized mobile hardware so only partial automation is realistic.