Will railroad track workers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Railroad track workers score 7 of 100 for AI exposure. All of their task time still needs a person.
- 100% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 99% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 26 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can't do any of them end to end yet. It speeds up 0 and leaves 26 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks. Reading level gauges on machines needs on-site physical presence. | 18% Needs a person |
| Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications. Machine control adjustments follow specs but need operator hands. | 14% Needs a person |
| Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported. Walking or driving patrols is physical; only reporting is digital. | 12% Needs a person |
| Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings. Painting is physical; only sign wording could be AI drafted. | 10% Needs a person |
| Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels. Greasing and fluid top-ups are physical; logs could be digitized. | 9% Needs a person |
| Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained. Driving track laying vehicles is physical machine operation. | 8% Needs a person |
| Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks. Ballast work is operating heavy machinery in the field. | 6% Needs a person |
| Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails. Driving ballast machines is physical operation in the field. | 6% Needs a person |
| Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails. Operating spike drivers is hands-on machine work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws. Cutting rail with saws is physical, in-field work. | 5% Needs a person |
Show the other 16 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment. Minor machine repairs are hands-on mechanical work. | 5% Needs a person |
| String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled. Attaching guidelines to rails is physical field setup. | 5% Needs a person |
| Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications. Turning guideline wheels is manual, physical adjustment work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts. Hands-on switch repair with wrenches and parts. | 4% Needs a person |
| Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together. Turning bolts with track wrenches is manual physical labor. | 4% Needs a person |
| Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills. Power drilling rails in the field is physical work. | 4% Needs a person |
| Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties. Spike pulling is physical machine operation in the field. | 4% Needs a person |
| Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges. Setting gauge mechanisms is hands-on machine operation. | 4% Needs a person |
| Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved. Operating grasping controls on rails is physical machine work. | 4% Needs a person |
| Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs. Welding track sections is hands-on physical craft work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes. Clearing ice and snow from track is outdoor physical work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement. Hydraulic jacking of rails is physical lifting work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders. Grinding switch points is hands-on physical work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders. Grinding rail ends is manual, physical field work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails. Tie adzing is physical cutting work on machines. | 3% Needs a person |
| Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering. Spraying oil on ties is physical field work. | 3% Needs a person |
How railroad track workers compare
All occupations (923)
Construction and extraction (61)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $70,070 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 19,580 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +1.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Read level indicator arms on track machines in the field
- Set spec controls on tamping and ballast machines
- File track defect reports in Timekeeping software and Excel
- Weld switch points and frogs with hands-on craft skill
- Hold a valid railroad track safety and operator certification
- Log machine lubrication and hydraulic fluid levels in Microsoft Office
Safer roles nearby
A related occupation with a lower score.
Questions about railroad track workers and AI
Will AI replace railroad track workers?
Partly. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly reporting track defects and drafting sign wording and logs. Most of the job stays with people, because reading level gauges, operating track machines, patrolling track and welding switch points all need a person on site.
Which tasks is AI taking over for railroad track workers?
Paperwork tied to field work is the main exposure. Drafting sign wording and digitizing lubrication logs score low on exposure, yet they are the parts a model can handle from text. Reporting located track damage after a patrol is also digital, so it is the easiest step to move into software.
Which railroad track worker tasks stay human?
Observing leveling indicator arms scores highest in exposure at 18, but the reading still needs someone physically at the machine. Adjusting machine controls to spec, walking patrols and grinding rail ends stay with people because they need hands, eyes and presence on the track.
How can railroad track workers stay valuable as AI grows?
Keep the physical work in your hands, including adjusting tamping and ballast machine controls, reading level gauges, and welding switch points and frogs. Record defects and machine service in Microsoft Excel and Timekeeping software so field records stay accurate.
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