Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operator Salary in New York, NY
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $87,150 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,031 take-home, or $5,503 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,343
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,403
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,264
- New York income tax$4,109
- Take-home pay$66,031
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,943 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $63,088 ($5,257 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operator pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,580 | $28.16 | $46,683 | $3,890 |
| 25th percentile | $70,070 | $33.69 | $54,937 | $4,578 |
| Median (50th) | $87,150 | $41.90 | $66,031 | $5,503 |
| 75th percentile | $87,150 | $41.90 | $66,031 | $5,503 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,150 | $41.90 | $66,031 | $5,503 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,150 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator's $66,031 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,661 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 2.3× the national concentration of rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $87,150 | $66,031 | $58,661 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: 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.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.5% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator make in New York, NY?
The median rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $87,150 a year, or about $41.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,070 and $87,150.
What is a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $87,150 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $66,031 a year ($5,503 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,109 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $70,070. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,661 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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