Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Washington make a median of $58,740 a year, or about $28.24 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $57,583 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 44.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Washington. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Washington?
About rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
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What this looks like in Washington
Pay for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Washington runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $70K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 44.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $74K 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 Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 44.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,077/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Washington?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $59K here vs. $70K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators?
Washington pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $70K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in Washington?
The median is $58,740 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,280, and experienced rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators can clear $73,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,103/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 44.6% 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-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary is worth about $57,583 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.