Prevailing Wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Prevailing wage requirements for Machine Operators covered under SOC 47-4061 are set by DOL and apply to every H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship filing. Rail Maintenance Workers and Track Equipment Operators fall under this same classification. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the work is performed in.
See all jobs for Machine OperatorLook up your work address
Entry-level track equipment operators with limited hands-on experience, typically under two years, working under direct supervision on routine maintenance tasks. Employers filing at Level 1 expect to provide significant on-the-job guidance and structured oversight throughout daily operations.
Qualified rail maintenance workers with two or more years of field experience who perform standard track laying and repair tasks with only general supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting the hands-on skilled nature of the role.
Experienced track inspectors or senior operators with specialized skills, a history of independent judgment, and responsibility for more complex maintenance assignments. These professionals may coordinate with engineering teams and are expected to troubleshoot equipment or track conditions with minimal direction.
Fully competent lead operators or supervisory-track workers who set standards, train junior crew members, and take ownership of large-scale maintenance projects. Level 4 employers typically require demonstrated mastery of ballast cleaning, tamping, and heavy rail equipment across varied operating environments.
Prevailing Wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for Machine Operator
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Machine Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Watch for title mismatches on LCA filings
Employers sometimes post openings under generic titles like Track Laborer or Machine Operator but file the LCA under a different SOC code, which can assign a lower prevailing wage than SOC 47-4061 requires. Confirm the SOC code on any LCA before accepting an offer.
Compare metro wages before choosing between offers
The prevailing wage gap between top-paying metros like Boston and Baltimore versus lower-paying Texas markets is substantial for this occupation. Because the LCA wage is tied to the worksite city, a relocation decision carries real wage-floor implications worth calculating before you commit.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Transit agencies and railroad contractors vary widely in how often they sponsor visas for track maintenance roles. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring positions in this occupation, helping you focus on companies already familiar with the filing process.
Confirm overtime and per diem are excluded from the wage base
Track maintenance crews frequently earn per diem allowances and overtime pay for remote or overnight assignments. DOL requires employers to meet the prevailing wage floor through base pay alone; supplemental allowances and overtime cannot be counted toward satisfying the LCA wage obligation.
Jobs for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Machine OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-4061.00 alongside Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Rail Maintenance Worker Prevailing Wage
Rail Maintenance Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Rail Maintenance Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Track Equipment Operator (TEO) Prevailing Wage
Track Equipment Operator (TEO) Prevailing Wage
Track Equipment Operator (TEO) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Track Inspector Prevailing Wage
Track Inspector Prevailing Wage
Track Inspector positions fall under SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Track Laborer Prevailing Wage
Track Laborer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Track Laborer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Track Maintainer Prevailing Wage
Track Maintainer Prevailing Wage
Track Maintainer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Track Repairer Prevailing Wage
Track Repairer Prevailing Wage
Track Repairer positions fall under SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Track Walker Prevailing Wage
Track Walker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Track Walker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Trackman Prevailing Wage
Trackman Prevailing Wage
Trackman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4061.00 (Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Machine Operators under SOC 47-4061?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. For each area, DOL publishes four wage levels tied to experience and supervision. Employers sponsoring a Machine Operator must file an LCA certifying they will pay at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified workers performing standard duties with general oversight; Level 3 covers experienced workers handling complex tasks independently; Level 4 covers fully competent lead workers. The level should match your actual job duties and experience, not just your years worked. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC to confirm which level they selected.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same track maintenance role vary so much from city to city?
DOL bases wages on regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions directly shape the floor. A metro with dense transit infrastructure and unionized rail workforces, like Boston or New York, produces higher survey wages than markets with thinner concentrations of this occupation. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite, the wage floor follows the location where the work is physically performed, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Track Equipment Operator position?
The LCA will not be certified by DOL, and USCIS will not approve the accompanying visa petition. If a deficiency is discovered after certification, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment from future sponsorships. As the sponsored worker, you cannot waive this protection. If an offer is below the applicable level wage, the employer must raise the salary before the LCA can proceed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Rail Maintenance Worker position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current wage levels by SOC code 47-4061 and metro area. Select the geographic area matching your worksite, not your employer's home office. You can also cross-reference with O*NET for occupation-level context. For identifying which employers have actively sponsored this role in specific metros, Migrate Mate filters listings by location and shows each employer's historical sponsorship activity.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators right now.
Search Jobs for Machine Operator