Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Idaho make a median of $79,020 a year, or about $37.99 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $84,171 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Idaho. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $79K get you in Idaho?
About rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
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What this looks like in Idaho
Idaho sits well above the national pay line for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $70K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Idaho offers a genuinely strong financial position for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $33K 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 Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,914/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Idaho?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $79K here vs. $70K nationally.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators?
Idaho pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $70K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in Idaho?
The median is $79,020 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,570, and experienced rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators can clear $81,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,038/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 22.5% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $84,171 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.