How to hire a rail technician

How to hire a rail technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step rail technician 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 technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new rail technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your rail technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a rail technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect rail technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of rail technicians.

   Type of Rail Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Rail Technician		$12-36
   Auto Inspector	In manufacturing facilities, an auto inspector is in charge of conducting inspections and evaluations to ensure that vehicles adhere to industry standards and regulations. In some situations, they work to assess auto damages to help insurance companies with verifying insurance claims... Show more	$12-35
   Equipment Inspector	The primary responsibility of an equipment inspector is to check equipment for any damage and perform troubleshooting. If the damage is beyond their capability, they transport the damaged equipment to reliable repair shops and report it to persons concerned... Show more	$13-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rail Cars
   • HVAC
   • Test Equipment
   • Safety Regulations
   • FRA
   • Electrical Systems
   • Hand Tools
   • Rail Vehicles
   • Technical Manuals
   • Torches
   • DOT
   • AAR
   • Jigs
   • Tank Cars

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain up to 100 cars and locomotives.
   • Perform functional test such as break system and HVAC analysis.
   • Cut materials to specify sizes for installation using power saws, and torches.
   • Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
   • Perform inspection of ventilation systems for functionality and preventive maintenance.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, rail technicians' average salary in south dakota is 53% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level rail technicians 64% less than senior-level rail technicians.
   • Certifications. A rail technician 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 technician's salary.

   Average rail technician salary

   $45,620yearly

   $21.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level rail technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a rail technician job description

   A job description for a rail technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a rail technician job description:

   Rail technician job description example

   Your success is a train ride away!
   
   As we move America's workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.
   
   Are you ready to join our team?
   
   Our values of 'Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First' are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, 'Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security' are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.
   
   Boston High-Speed Rail MachinistTech Hiring Event
   
   Tuesday, October 25th, 2022 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
   
   Apply to this position if you are interested, and a recruiter will be in contact to schedule
   
   you for an interview time.
   
   This event is for High-Speed Rail Machinist Tech.
   
   What To Bring (copies only):
   
   * 3 copies of your resume (we will not be able to make copies or accept pictures on your phone)
   * Positive attitude
   
   What To Expect At The Event:
   
   * Plan to be at this event for 4 hours
   * If you are presented with an offer, please plan on doing an onsite drug test
   
   Available Opportunities:
   
   * High Speed Rail Machinist Tech Hiring Event
   * Please note that available opportunities are subject to change depending on the organization's need.
   
   Why Amtrak?
   
   Work/Life Balance, Compensation/Benefits, Job Security/Advancement, Amazing Management, and Culture! Unlimited rail travel for you, your spouse and dependent children as described in the Pass Privileges Policy as well as up to 8 Companion Pass travel vouchers per calendar year
   
   Amtrak Benefits:
   
   * A variety of medical plans, Vision, and Dental
   * 401k, Life Insurance
   * Tuition Reimbursement, Student Loan Repayment
   * Competitive Healthcare Packages
   * Competitive Wages
   * Railroad Retirement
   * Rail Privileges
   * Additional Benefits & Discounts
   
   Are you ready to join our team?
   
   Our values of Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak.
   
   Qualifications:
   
   SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
   
   The High Speed Trainset Machinist Technician, after receiving training on all mechanical systems, undercarriage power components and mechanical control systems must possess the skills to inspect, repair or replace components and troubleshoot equipment to determine required corrective action and determine causes of failures. They must also be capable of training members of their craft and other trainset mechanics in the operation and repair of systems and components to improve the skill level of all trainset mechanics. In addition, the high speed trainset Machinist Technician must have a working knowledge of all electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems and be able to make repairs to them based upon the training they have received. They are expected to work in a team environment, performing other work as required regardless of classification.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   
   To the level of their ability, after receiving training on all systems and mechanical devices they must possess the basic skills necessary to independently inspect, repair or replace components and troubleshoot equipment to determine required corrective action and determine causes of failures on equipment which generally fall within the scope of their craft agreement, on equipment which generally fall within the scope of their agreements.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Must be Work Keys certified and have successfully completed High Speed Trainset training course.
   * High School Diploma/GED
   
   COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
   
   Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
   
   Candidates accepting this position may be eligible for:
   
   Sign-On - $3,000 to $5,000 (based on experience and subject to specific conditions and crafts)
   
   A possible sign-on bonus of up to $5,000 (for example $5,000 for two or more years of railroad experience or $3,000 for trade school graduates). Most sign-on bonuses will be paid out in the next pay cycle following the first 30 days of employment and should be paid out in one installment. Larger bonuses may be paid out in multiple installments and subject to specific conditions and crafts.
   
   Lump Sum Bonus to Cover Relocation Expenses
   
   A one-time lump sum payment, which will be increased to account for taxes, is provided to cover expenses associated with relocation for new employees with two or more years of relevant experience working for a Class I railroad. In addition, our vendor partner, Relo Direct, will assign a personal client service manager to help navigate the relocation process, including the client portal. Additionally, they will provide referrals to approved suppliers who can assist the employee with additional needs, like temporary housing, household goods move, and similar services.
   
   Note: The distance between the old residence and the new principal place of work must be at least 50 miles. Relocation must be generally completed within one year following the effective date of transfer/start of work in the new location. If the employee voluntarily terminates employment with Amtrak or is terminated for cause for reasons other than job elimination, reduction in force, or restructuring within the period from the effective date of transfer until 24 months, all relocation benefits will cease and the employee will be required to repay relocation benefits according to the following schedule: 12 months of service or less - 100% repayment, 13-24 months of service - 50% repayment. Both repayments would be inclusive of tax assistance.
   
   
   Posting Location(s):Massachusetts
   
   Job Family/Function:Mechanical
   
   Relocation Offered:Yes
   
   Travel Requirements:None
   
   Amtrak employees power our progress through their performance.
   
   We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job - we want it to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging and rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, competitive pay, benefits that protect you and your family and a high performance culture that recognizes and values your contributions and helps you reach your career goals.
   
   All positions require pre-employment background check verification, a pre-employment drug screen and proof of full vaccination against COVID -19. Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing. Marijuana, notwithstanding any statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Candidates who engage in the usage of marijuana will not be qualified for hire. Successful applicants for employment with Amtrak must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the date of hire as a condition of employment, subject to requests for accommodation. Fully vaccinated means 14 days have elapsed since receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or 14 days since receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
   
   In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.
   
   In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for public transportation ( Title 6 U.S.C. § 1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.
   
   Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
   
   Amtrak is an EOE/Affirmative Action Minority/Female employer, and we welcome all to apply. We consider candidates regardless of race/color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin/ethnicity, age, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.
   
   POSTING NOTES: Mechanical || Laborer / Skilled Trades

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find rail technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any rail technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level rail technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with rail technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   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 rail technician

   Once you've found the rail technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new rail technician. 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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