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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 Workerss out-earn Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss land at $70,070 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss 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 Operatorss is Massachusetts ($94,330); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss 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)
N/A
N/A
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 Operatorss or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $70,070 for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss, 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?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

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 Operatorss get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operatorss 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 Operatorss earn $94,330 vs. $97,850 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss. 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 Operatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss 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 →