How to hire a carman

How to hire a carman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step carman hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a carman job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new carman
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a carman do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the carman you need to hire. Certain carman roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A carman's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, carmen from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents carman salaries for various positions.

   Type of Carman	Description	Hourly rate
   Carman	Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.	$11-45

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Cranes
   • Locomotives
   • Ladders
   • Federal Regulations
   • Jigs
   • Torches
   • Switches
   • MIG
   • CSX
   • Defective Components
   • Safety Appliances
   • Train Line
   • Air Arc

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate light/heavy cranes, fork lifts, and all railroad car moving shop equipment.
   • Perform air brake tests, schedule maintenance, and necessary inspections on locomotives and trains in accordance with federal regulations.
   • Perform maintenance on Amtrak trains.
   • Fill out AAR billing forms.
   • Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
   • Weld parts, or add surface material using SMAW.

   More carman duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your carman job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A carman can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, carmen' average salary in hawaii is 47% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level carmen 76% less than senior-level carmen.
   • Certifications. A carman with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a carman's salary.

   Average carman salary

   $47,875yearly

   $23.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level carman salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average carman salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Delaware	$53,960	$26
   2	Maryland	$53,639	$26
   3	Pennsylvania	$53,298	$26
   4	Michigan	$50,088	$24
   5	Virginia	$47,288	$23
   6	Ohio	$43,048	$21
   7	Illinois	$42,850	$21
   8	North Carolina	$42,603	$20
   9	Texas	$42,552	$20
   10	Iowa	$42,015	$20
   11	Indiana	$40,421	$19
   12	Missouri	$37,950	$18
   13	Georgia	$36,666	$18
   14	Florida	$35,489	$17
   15	Alabama	$35,452	$17
   16	Louisiana	$34,532	$17
   17	South Carolina	$33,910	$16
   18	Oregon	$33,556	$16
   19	Washington	$32,830	$16

   Average carman salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kansas City Southern	$51,743	$24.88
   2	Alstom	$50,058	$24.07
   3	Road & Rail Services	$47,779	$22.97	2
   4	CSX	$45,051	$21.66
   5	National Railroad Passenger Corporation	$43,992	$21.15	1
   6	Mta	$42,240	$20.31
   7	System One	$40,898	$19.66
   8	Florida East Coast Railway	$40,773	$19.60
   9	The Springs Living, Llc	$28,484	$13.69

4. Writing a carman job description

   A carman job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a carman job description:

   Carman job description example

   A carman is responsible for inspecting, repairing and maintaining railcars consistent with industry standards, company directives, and federal regulations. A carman will use hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting equipment and measuring instruments; and will also be required to operate forklifts, cranes, tractors, torches, welders and rivet guns.
   WORKING CONDITIONS:
   
   Carmen may work within a mechanical shop environment, but may also work in open rail yards and on line-of-road. A carman must therefore be able to work in all types of weather conditions. Although a carman position entails mostly shift work, which may include weekends, overtime and odd service hours may be required.
   
   SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
   
   REQUIRED:
   
   High School diploma or GED equivalent; must possess a valid driver's license; demonstration of mechanical aptitude; sufficient reading and comprehension skills to successfully develop and maintain AAR (Association of American Railroads) car billing and repair records; and successful comprehension of FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) regulations.
   
   UNION MEMBERSHIP:
   
   This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement and the successful applicant will be required to join the union. Monthly union dues are required and will be deducted from the employee's paycheck.
   
   The duties, responsibilities and qualifications in this posting are representative categories to be used by an applicant in deciding whether to apply for the position. These general guidelines do not constitute an exhaustive list of qualifications or essential functions of the position. In addition, these general guidelines bear no relation to, nor are they intended to modify or conflict with, any collective bargaining agreement provision. Questions about the collective bargaining agreement, if any, governing the position described herein should be directed to the appropriate union organization.
   
   EEO Statement
   
   We value a culturally diverse workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.
   
   Company Overview
   
   In 1887, Arthur Stilwell constructed a north-south railroad while others were heading east and west, setting the tone for a century-old legacy of outstanding vision; entrepreneurial spirit; resilience in the face of adversity; and, willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. Building on that legacy, our culture is further defined by a new vision for the future and a core set of values - Safety, Customer Focus, Communication, Teamwork, Initiative & Innovation, and Diversity & Civility. We believe that the way we do business is as important as the business we do.
   
   In addition to a culture that allows employees to thrive, we encourage resourcefulness with an award, recognizing employees who see a problem (or opportunity), find a solution, and use whatever authority and resources are available to get a job done well - accomplishing what was previously thought could not be done.
   
   If you want to do work that is creative and strategic, be heard, grow professionally, be valued by your employer, and know that you are making an important contribution to an essential industry, a global supply chain, and the larger economy, Kansas City Southern may be the place for you.
   
   Required SkillsRequired Experience

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right carman for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your carman job on Zippia to find and recruit carman candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting carmen requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new carman

   Once you've selected the best carman candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new carman. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a carman?