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What is a rail equipment operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a rail equipment operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.67 an hour? That's $53,402 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 3,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreRail Equipment OperatorUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,402

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 1.91%

Black or African American 11.46%

Hispanic or Latino 6.58%

Unknown 4.67%

White 74.95%

Gender

female 0.00%

male 100.00%

Age - 47.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47.5
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a rail equipment operator

  1. Explore rail equipment operator education requirements

    Most common rail equipment operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    66.7 %

    Diploma

    33.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific rail equipment operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    OSHA82.55%
    Rail Yard17.45%
  3. Complete relevant rail equipment operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New rail equipment operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a rail equipment operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real rail equipment operator resumes.
  4. Research rail equipment operator duties and responsibilities

    • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
    • Lead compression shift of twenty-one operators and supporting staff in daily operations of manufacturing generic prescription medications in a GMP setting.
    • Create comprehensive written reports and PowerPoint presentations that show information in an interactive form during monthly staff meetings.
  5. Prepare your rail equipment operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your rail equipment operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a rail equipment operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable rail equipment operator resume templates

    Build a professional rail equipment operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your rail equipment operator resume.
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
    Rail Equipment Operator Resume
  6. Apply for rail equipment operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a rail equipment operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first rail equipment operator job

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Average rail equipment operator salary

The average rail equipment operator salary in the United States is $53,402 per year or $26 per hour. Rail equipment operator salaries range between $31,000 and $91,000 per year.

Average rail equipment operator salary
$53,402 Yearly
$25.67 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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