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Career Exploration

Rail Car Repairers

Also called: Rail Car Mechanic, Rail Car Repairer, Rail Car Repairman, Rail Car Welder

What they do:

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

On the job, you would:
  • Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
  • Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
  • Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • design

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Business

  • management

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Basic Skills

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Technical

  • figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work
  • repairing machines or systems using the right tools

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Visual Understanding

  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
  • see hidden patterns

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Innovation
  • Cooperation

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Internet browser software

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $62,510

Education

High school diploma/GED or certificate after high school is usually needed.