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Salary comparison

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers out-earn Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators land at $70,070 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers at $79,920. The education gap is real: rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is Massachusetts ($94,330); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers it's Washington ($109,570).

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$70,070
$79,920
Hourly rate
$33.69/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$45,640
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$87,420
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
19,580
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
1.6%
5.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators median pay.

State
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Massachusetts
$94,330
$97,850
New York
$87,150
$95,700
Delaware
$80,610
$81,100
Illinois
$78,910
$105,750
Indiana
$78,020
$82,530
California
$71,170
$97,680
New Jersey
$66,540
$105,510
Missouri
$64,390
$87,520
Colorado
$64,300
$81,230
Pennsylvania
$59,800
$81,540
Washington
$58,740
$109,570
Nevada
$56,740
$81,990
Oregon
$50,930
$103,070
Minnesota
$49,640
$97,610
Wisconsin
$47,920
$85,350

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn more nationally. The median is $70,070 for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.3% projected growth, compared to 1.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators at $94,330/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators earn $94,330 vs. $97,850 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorsGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →