Rail Car Repairers Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Rail Car Repairers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $72,660 a year, or about $34.94 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $70,142 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 37.3% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $73K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
About rail car repairers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level rail car repairers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K.Top earners bring in $92K or more - a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Rail Car Repairers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $98K | +49% | 620 |
| Oregon | $85K | +30% | 220 |
| New York | $85K | +30% | 1,560 |
| Maryland | $85K | +29% | 490 |
| Wisconsin | $85K | +29% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +21% | 390 |
| Delaware | $77K | +18% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +17% | 380 |
| Utah | $75K | +15% | 80 |
| Illinois | $73K | +12% | 1,440 |
| Indiana | $73K | +11% | 340 |
| Florida | $67K | +2% | 500 |
| California | $67K | +2% | 650 |
| Nebraska | $66K | +1% | 610 |
| South Dakota | $66K | +0% | 80 |
Track rail car repairers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
How much do rail car repairers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $72,660 a year - that works out to about $34.94 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,050, and experienced rail car repairers can clear $92,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,659/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 38.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a rail car repairers salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rail car repairers salary is worth about $70,142 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rail car repairers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.