What they do
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Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
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| Also called: |
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Machine Operator, Rail Maintenance Worker, Track Equipment Operator (TEO), Track Inspector, Track Laborer, Track Maintainer, Track Repairer, Track Walker, Trackman
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Wages
Wage rates not available for Vermont
but may be for the nation and other states at
CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| United States - 2020 |
| Industry | Percent of total |
| 50% |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 22% |
- Heavy and civil engineering construction
| 9% |
| 8% |
- State government, excluding education and hospitals
| 5% |
| More at BLS |
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Knowledge
| People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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- Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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- Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
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- Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
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- Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
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| More at O*NET |
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Skills
| People in this career often have these skills: |
- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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- Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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- Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
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- Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
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- Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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| More at O*NET |
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Interests
| People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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| What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
| People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
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- Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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| More at O*NET |
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Tasks
| On the job, you would: |
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
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- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
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- Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
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- Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
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- Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
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| More at O*NET |
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| Related Occupations
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Projected Employment
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| Vermont |
| 2020 employment |
37 |
| 2030 employment |
37 |
Annual percent change
(compounded) |
0.0% |
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations) |
4 |
| More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Moderate-term on-the-job training
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| Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical 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.
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- Physical activity is Very Important
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- Level of activity is High
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| Low |  | High |
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| Compare Occupations at O*NET |
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Job Zone
| Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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| Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
| How much education do most people in this career have? |
| Education level |  | Percent of
U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate | | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
| Associate's degree | | 0% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 0% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 90% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 10% |
| More at O*NET |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
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| More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
| In general, what you might do: |
- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
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- Handling and Moving Objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
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| More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
- Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
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- Maintain mechanical equipment.
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- Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
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- Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
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| More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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