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Locomotive Maintenance Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Locomotive Diesel Mechanic

Parkersburg, WV ยท On-site

$24.50 - $32.50/hr

Summary Description The person in this position will inspect, service, and maintain diesel locomotives and on-track equipment in accordance with federal and company regulations, diagnose diesel ...

$28 - $35/hr

This is a full-time, hands-on mechanical role critical to maintaining reliable locomotive equipment and supporting safe, efficient customer operations across multiple Railserve locations. This ...

This is a full-time, hands-on mechanical role critical to maintaining reliable locomotive equipment and supporting safe, efficient customer operations. Tools and a company truck are provided by ...

$26 - $30/hr

This is a full-time, hands-on mechanical role critical to maintaining reliable locomotive equipment and supporting safe, efficient customer operations. Tools and a company truck are provided by ...

Materials Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$26 - $30/hr

Materials Specialist - Locomotive Maintenance Chicago, IL | Direct Hire | $26-$30/hour Looking for a stable career with growth potential, paid training, and the opportunity to support one of the ...

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Locomotive Maintenance information

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$5

$29

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How much do locomotive maintenance jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for locomotive maintenance in the United States is $29.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $38.22 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does a locomotive technician make?

A locomotive technician typically earns between $50,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. They perform maintenance and repairs on trains and related equipment, often working in shifts and requiring technical skills with diagnostic tools.

What is the highest paying railroad job?

The highest paying railroad jobs are typically senior management positions such as railroad executives or specialized roles like locomotive engineers with extensive experience. These roles often require advanced certifications, technical skills, and years of experience, and they can offer salaries exceeding six figures annually.

What is the highest paid maintenance job?

In locomotive maintenance, senior roles such as locomotive maintenance managers or chief engineers tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding $80,000 annually. These positions require extensive experience, certifications, and technical skills in diesel and electric locomotive systems, and they typically oversee maintenance operations and compliance standards.

What is the difference between Locomotive Maintenance vs Railroad Car Maintenance?

AspectLocomotive MaintenanceRailroad Car Maintenance
CertificationsASE certifications, diesel mechanic licensesASE certifications, general mechanic licenses
Work EnvironmentRepair shops, rail yards, on-site locomotive facilitiesRail yards, maintenance shops, on-site repair facilities
Industry UsageFocuses on engines and mechanical systems of locomotivesFocuses on the structural and mechanical systems of railcars
Common Search/ComparisonLocomotive Maintenance vs Railroad Car Maintenance

Locomotive Maintenance technicians specialize in repairing and maintaining locomotives, focusing on engines and mechanical systems. Railroad Car Maintenance workers, on the other hand, focus on railcars' structural and mechanical components. Both roles require similar certifications and often work in rail yards or repair shops, but their specific duties differ based on the equipment they service.

What are some common challenges faced in a locomotive maintenance role, and how can they be managed effectively?

One of the main challenges in locomotive maintenance is troubleshooting complex mechanical and electrical systems under time constraints, especially when locomotives are needed back in service quickly. Working with heavy machinery in sometimes adverse weather conditions also requires a strong focus on safety and attention to detail. Collaboration with engineers, conductors, and other team members is essential to coordinate repairs and minimize downtime. Staying up-to-date with the latest diagnostic technologies and maintenance procedures can help technicians address these challenges more efficiently.

How to become a locomotive technician?

To become a locomotive technician, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and complete a technical training program or apprenticeship in locomotive maintenance. Certification from industry organizations and familiarity with tools, safety procedures, and diagnostic equipment are also important for employment in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Locomotive Maintenance, and why are they important?

To thrive in Locomotive Maintenance, you need strong mechanical aptitude, problem-solving abilities, and typically a technical diploma or apprenticeship in diesel technology or a related field. Familiarity with diagnostic software, hand and power tools, and safety protocols is essential, along with certifications like FRA compliance or ASE Diesel certifications. Attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are vital soft skills for minimizing errors and ensuring workplace safety. These skills ensure efficient locomotive operation, regulatory compliance, and safe rail transport.

What is locomotive maintenance?

Locomotive maintenance refers to the regular inspection, repair, and servicing of locomotives to ensure their safe and efficient operation. This work includes checking and repairing mechanical, electrical, and control systems, as well as performing preventative maintenance to avoid breakdowns. Maintenance tasks can range from routine oil changes and brake inspections to major overhauls of engines and components. Skilled technicians follow strict safety and regulatory standards to keep locomotives in peak condition and minimize downtime for rail operations.
More about Locomotive Maintenance jobs
What states have the most Locomotive Maintenance jobs? States with the most job openings for Locomotive Maintenance jobs include:
Infographic showing various Locomotive Maintenance job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Locum Tenens, 88% As Needed, 8% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,577 per year, or $29.6 per hour.
Locomotive Maintenance Technical Advisor (TA)

Locomotive Maintenance Technical Advisor (TA)

Wabtec

Selkirk, NY โ€ข On-site

$111K - $111K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Job Description

Who will you be working with?

As a member of Field Services Americas, you will be responsible for helping our customer (CSX) maintain their fleet of GE/Wabtec locomotives through advising, informing, researching, and assisting their mechanical employees. You will be part of a team made up of Wabtec technical and materials experts, all working to ensure our customer's fleet is running at optimal levels.

How will you make a difference?

Our Locomotive Maintenance Technical Advisors are trained subject matter experts in diagnosing and troubleshooting a variety of locomotives. They receive world-class training at our corporate training facility where they become certified in troubleshooting and advising on the maintenance of state-of-the-art locomotive engines.

Multiple levels of training and certification are available to our Locomotive Maintenance Technical Advisors, which provides them with multiple career opportunities within the company as their careers progress. With over 27,000 global employees, Wabtec provides rich career development and growth opportunities for our employees.

What will your typical day look like?

Our Locomotive Maintenance Technical advisors work inside locomotive diesel repair shops located on our customer's property, and work side by side with our customer, including their management teams.

This role serves as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Technical Advisor, responsible for advising railroad employees and management on how/when/if to make specific repairs on GE/Wabtec locomotives rather than completing actual locomotive repairs yourself.

This is a unique aspect to this role in that you are essentially always in front of the customer, which requires a heightened since of awareness and customer centric focus, but also enables you to see the immediate impact of your contributions on a daily basis.

This position is part of a team covering 24/7 schedule coverage. Shifts are twelve (12) hours in length, with the normal rotation of 4 days on and 3 days off each week. A level of flexibility in scheduling is required (either in days or hours covered) to accommodate for scheduling changes, however, added incentives are available when covering shifts outside of your regular schedule.

While one day can widely differ from the next depending on a number of factors, a general outline of an average day would include:

  • Shift Start: Conduct turnover with off going shift, including individual locomotive rundown and status updates, review material needs, discuss bad actor locomotives, meet with customer on shop flow and expectations of the oncoming shift
  • Throughout Each Day: Actively walking the shop, touching base with railroad employees on locomotive statuses, delivering material within the shop for repairs, helping troubleshoot issues, workorder maintenance, along with other regularly reoccurring tasks. ย 

Note: During the first 12-18 months in the role, or until you obtain your Level 1 Certification, a significant amount of your time and focus will likely be on reviewing and completing certification materials as a requirement of the position which may require study outside of working hours.

Other main tasks you could expect to carry out on most days would include:

  • Provide clear communication and technical guidance to railroad employees and management to include troubleshooting, material assistance, tooling and / or locomotive status, safety procedures, productivity and process improvements, and contract requirement clarification.
  • Coordinate and provide instruction on key programs and procedures related to locomotive maintenance and modifications.
  • Provide technical mentorship to teams, including troubleshooting, material handling, tooling, safety procedures, and contract requirement clarification
  • Provide clear communication to employees, customer management, and Wabtec management on work to be performed, equipment status, efficiency, and process improvements.
  • Partner with teams to promote, maintain, and drive continuous improvement in safe work practices while supervising productivity, quality assurance, and adherence to contract requirements
  • Abide by all governmental regulations, OSHA work practices, and industry / site specific work rules
  • Work with employees and management on establishing production plans for labor, material, and logistics
  • Work with various software systems to run material, labor plans, and other systemic requirements

What about the physical demands of the job?

  • Standing for long periods of time
  • Walking throughout the day
  • Walking up and down stairs
  • Climbing on/off of locomotives
  • Observing small writing and labels
  • Wearing all required personal protective gear (hardhat, steel toe boots, ear plugs, eye protection) throughout the day
  • Speaking and hearing
  • Typing and operating a computer
  • Working overnight shifts and multiple days in a row, as required
  • You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.
Qualifications

What do we want to know about you?

  • Bachelor's Degree (Or a 2-year degree with 2 years of professional work experience, Or a High School Diploma / GED with a minimum of 4 years of Operations or Military leadership experience)
  • Willingness and ability to work various shifts, various days, and work in shop environment
  • A high degree of mechanical and/or electrical aptitude and problem-solving ability
  • Ability to complete Wabtec Level 1 Technical Training within prescribed time (normally 18 months from hire date)
  • Proficiency in MS office applications
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
  • Validated analytical and quality improvement ability
  • Ability to interface at all levels of the organization, both internally and externally
  • The ability to maintain reliable and predictable attendance
  • A high level of dependability, a great attitude, and an ability to work well with a team towards achieving a common goal
Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $62100-85300 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it's not just about a job - it's about the impact you make. When our people come together, we're Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you're ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
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Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it's freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together - are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We're lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We're building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.


We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we've got you.