How to hire a rail maintenance worker

Rail maintenance worker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring rail maintenance workers in the United States:

In the United States, the median cost per hire a rail maintenance worker is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new rail maintenance worker to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a rail maintenance worker, step by step

To hire a rail maintenance worker, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a rail maintenance worker, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step rail maintenance worker hiring guide:

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

Post a rail maintenance worker job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you start hiring a rail maintenance worker, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

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

A rail maintenance worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, rail maintenance workers 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.

Here's a comparison of rail maintenance worker salaries for various roles:

Type of Rail Maintenance Worker	Description	Hourly rate
Rail Maintenance Worker	Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery, such as conveying systems, production machinery, and packaging equipment. Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble, and move machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.	$14-31
Oiler	An Oiler applies or puts lubricants, oil, or fuel on vehicles, motors, or machines. Besides monitoring and recording gage readings, an Oiler also helps professional engineers to start and operate machinery... Show more	$11-34
Janitorial Maintenance Worker	A janitorial maintenance worker is one of the busiest employees in a company. They are responsible for inspecting all the office's rooms and equipment daily... Show more	$9-14

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Rail Cars
- Railcars
Responsibilities:
- Involve using shovels, heavy duty jacks, tamping bars, sledge hammers, backhoes, and heavy vibrating machinery
- Analyze boiler water for acidity and alkalinity and maintain cleanliness and upkeep of equipment.
- Dismantle devices to gain proper access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, handtools and power tools.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in your rail maintenance worker job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A rail maintenance worker can vary based on:
- Location. For example, rail maintenance workers' average salary in south dakota is 43% less than in california.
- Seniority. Entry-level rail maintenance workers 54% less than senior-level rail maintenance workers.
- Certifications. A rail maintenance worker 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 rail maintenance worker's salary.
Average rail maintenance worker salary
$45,060yearly
$21.66 hourly rate
Entry-level rail maintenance worker salary
$30,000 yearly salary
Updated December 16, 2025
Writing a rail maintenance worker job description
A rail maintenance worker 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a rail maintenance worker job description:
Rail maintenance worker job description example
Be a safe driver with no more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years.
Have no convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or any drugs within the past 10 years.

Good interpersonal relationship skills.
Good verbal communication skills.
Must be able to read, write, and speak English.

Must observe the TRAX Safety Rules for MOW employees.
Perform all duties safely, efficiently and in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations with minimum supervision.
Operate any vehicles or equipment required for MOW work (such as hi-rail, crane, and power, hand tamping machines, or forklift).
Use hand and power tools.
Ability to perform physical requirements of the job to include walking long distances in a quick manner on uneven surfaces, heavy physical requirements of the job, such as lifting rail parts and equipment weighing over one hundred (100) pounds, and assisting in the loading, unloading and movement of ties, rails and other heavy objects weighing over one hundred fifty (150) pounds, prolonged periods of standing, crawl and lay on uneven surfaces, able to work in tight and awkward positions, work outside in all weather conditions, and constantly aware of surroundings.
Learn safety practices.

This job requires regular and predictable attendance

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Post your job

There are various strategies that you can use to find the right rail maintenance worker 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 rail maintenance worker job on Zippia to find and recruit rail maintenance worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
Use field-specific websites.
Post a job on free websites.

Interview candidates

During your first interview to recruit rail maintenance workers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

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

Send a job offer and onboard your new rail maintenance worker

Once you've selected the best rail maintenance worker 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new rail maintenance worker. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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.)

How much does it cost to hire a rail maintenance worker?

There are different types of costs for hiring rail maintenance workers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new rail maintenance worker employee.

Rail maintenance workers earn a median yearly salary is $45,060 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find rail maintenance workers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $14 and $31.

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How to hire a Rail Maintenance Worker

Updated December 16, 2025

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How to hire a rail maintenance worker