Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Arkansas make a median of $60,230 a year, or about $28.96 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $68,724 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in Arkansas?
About rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Arkansas runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $70K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 25.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,905/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $60K here vs. $70K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators?
Arkansas pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $70K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in Arkansas?
The median is $60,230 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,420, and experienced rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators can clear $70,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,021/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 25.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary is worth about $68,724 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators 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.