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Rail Car Repairers

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (49-3043)

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

At a Glance

Rail Car Repairers earns a median of $65,680/yr with +2.8% projected growth. Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent. Top skills: Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Windows.

Median Annual Wage

$65,680/yr

Projected Growth (2024-34)

+2.8%

Annual Openings

2

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Skills & Requirements

Skills (6)

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

4.0
Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

4.0
Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

3.8
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

3.3
Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

3.3
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

3.3

Knowledge (3)

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

4.5
Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

3.4
Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

3.3

Abilities (13)

Manual Dexterity

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

3.9
Control Precision

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

3.9
Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

3.9
Multilimb Coordination

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

3.8
Finger Dexterity

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

3.6
Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

3.6
Static Strength

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

3.5
Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

3.5
Reaction Time

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

3.5
Trunk Strength

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

3.5
Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

3.4
Extent Flexibility

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

3.3
Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

3.3

Technology (9)

Microsoft Excel

Category: Spreadsheet software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Adobe Acrobat

Category: Document management software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft Windows

Category: Operating system software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft PowerPoint

Category: Presentation software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Mozilla Firefox

Category: Internet browser software | Hot Technology

4.5
Microsoft Outlook

Category: Electronic mail software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Office software

Category: Office suite software | Hot Technology | In Demand

4.5
Microsoft Word

Category: Word processing software | Hot Technology

4.5
Disassembler software

Category: Compiler and decompiler software | In Demand

4.0

Work Activities (16)

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

4.2
Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

4.0
Handling and Moving Objects

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

3.9
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

3.9
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

3.8
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

3.8
Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

3.8
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

3.7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

3.6
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

3.6
Performing General Physical Activities

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

3.6
Controlling Machines and Processes

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

3.6
Training and Teaching Others

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

3.6
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

3.5
Documenting/Recording Information

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

3.3
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

3.3

Careers with Overlapping Skills

These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.

Explore Key Skills

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