Rail Car Repairer Salary in Chicago, IL
Rail Car Repairers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $62,250 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,261 take-home, or $4,105 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median rail car repairer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,290
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,860
- Medicare (1.45%)$903
- Illinois income tax$2,937
- Take-home pay$49,261
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Rail Car Repairer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,910 | $21.59 | $36,187 | $3,016 |
| 25th percentile | $49,690 | $23.89 | $39,791 | $3,316 |
| Median (50th) | $62,250 | $29.93 | $49,261 | $4,105 |
| 75th percentile | $94,280 | $45.33 | $70,634 | $5,886 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,280 | $45.33 | $70,634 | $5,886 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,250 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median rail car repairer's $49,261 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,552 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rail Car Repairer jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for rail car repairers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $92,250 | $69,325 | $61,588 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $59,310 | $49,836 | $50,528 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $62,250 | $49,261 | $47,552 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rail car repairer make in Chicago, IL?
The median rail car repairer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,250 a year, or about $29.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,690 and $94,280.
What is a rail car repairer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $62,250 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $49,261 a year ($4,105 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,937 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a rail car repairer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $67,530. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,552 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a rail car repairer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median rail car repairer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer — $123,430
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers — $114,670
- Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician — $100,610
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $85,420
- Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer — $79,590
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $77,960
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $75,800
- Millwright — $74,730
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $74,090
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers — $69,820
- Medical Equipment Repairer — $68,580
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $65,680