O*NET-SOC 47-4061.00

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.

Preparation

ItemValue
Preparation zoneZone 2 – Some preparation needed
What O*NET says the zone requiresSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed
Broad occupation in O*NETTrue (Yes)
Skills listed for this occupation6
Abilities listed for this occupation6
Tasks listed for this occupation5
Interest scores given for this occupation6

Skills

The 6 skills with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

SkillO*NET elementImportanceDate
Operation and Control2.B.3.h3.7507/2015
Operations Monitoring2.B.3.g3.7507/2015
Equipment Maintenance2.B.3.j3.2507/2015
Troubleshooting2.B.3.k3.2507/2015
Coordination2.B.1.b3.1207/2015
Critical Thinking2.A.2.a3.1207/2015

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Abilities

The 6 abilities with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

AbilityO*NET elementImportanceDate
Control Precision1.A.2.b.13.8807/2015
Manual Dexterity1.A.2.a.23.7507/2015
Multilimb Coordination1.A.2.b.23.7507/2015
Arm-Hand Steadiness1.A.2.a.13.6207/2015
Far Vision1.A.4.a.23.6207/2015
Problem Sensitivity1.A.1.b.33.6207/2015

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Tasks

The tasks O*NET records for this occupation, with the type, respondent count and date each record carries.

TaskTypeIncumbents respondingDate
Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.Core6407/2015
Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.Core6307/2015
Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.Core6207/2015
Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.Core6407/2015
Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.Core6307/2015

Work interests

The interest scores O*NET gives this occupation, on the six interest types.

InterestScoreDate
Realistic7.011/2023
Conventional4.1111/2023
Investigative1.711/2023
Artistic1.011/2023
Enterprising1.011/2023
Social1.011/2023

More occupations in preparation zone 2

Source: O*NET 29.1 Database (Occupation Data, Job Zones, Skills, Abilities, Task Statements, Interests), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Data fetched 2026-10-31. See about and sources.