Rail Car Cleaner Salary in the United States

How much does a Rail Car Cleaner make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Rail Car Cleaner in the United States is $61,030 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Rail Car Cleaner's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,554
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,723 to $66,015
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,980
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View as table View as graph 25% $54,723 10% $48,980 90% $70,554 75% $66,015 $61,030 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Rail Car Cleaner Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $66,015 $5,501 $1,270 $32
Average $61,030 $5,086 $1,174 $29
25th Percentile $54,723 $4,560 $1,052 $26
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Key Factors That Influence Rail Car Cleaner Salaries

A Rail Car Cleaner's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Rail Car Cleaner Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Rail Car Cleaner's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,417
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $60,592
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $62,344
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $64,217
  • Expert (over 8 years): $64,966
Levels Salary
Entry Level Rail Car Cleaner$60,417
Intermediate Level Rail Car Cleaner$60,592
Senior Level Rail Car Cleaner$62,344
Specialist Level Rail Car Cleaner$64,217
Expert Level Rail Car Cleaner$64,966
$60,417 0 yr
$60,592 < 2 yrs
$62,344 2-4 yrs
$64,217 5-8 yrs
$64,966 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Rail Car Cleaner Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Rail Car Cleaners. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $67,573.
  • California: $67,316.
  • Massachusetts: $66,419.

Top Paying Cities for Rail Car Cleaners

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $76,977
  • San Francisco: $76,221
  • Oakland: $74,530

What Skills Can Increase a Rail Car Cleaner's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.61% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Retail Operations (Mentioned in 3.81% Job Postings): Retail operations is the term used to describe all the activities that keep the store functioning well. Goal is to increase gross profit margin to ensure keeping more money on each sale.
  • Wholesale (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Buying and selling products in large quantities at a lower price to increase profitability through a high sales volume.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.61%
Retail Operations 3.81%
Wholesale 1.93%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Rail Car Cleaner's salary.
  • Territory Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Bidding: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Territory Management
$74,457
22%
Bidding
$66,523
9%
Initiative
$64,692
6%
Oral Communication
$64,082
5%
Collaboration
$63,471
4%
Partnering
$62,861
3%
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How Education impacts a Rail Car Cleaner's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Rail Car Cleaners enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Rail Car Cleaner with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $60,121 and $64,492).

Rail Car Cleaner Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Rail Car Cleaner
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 62.8%
Associates 28.1%
Bachelors 4.8%
Masters 2.2%
Doctorate 0.9%
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Rail Car Cleaner Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Rail Car Cleaner's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Rail Car Cleaner

Salaries for a Rail Car Cleaner can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $53,237 in 2023 to around $52,570 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Rail Car Cleaner salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Rail Car Cleaner Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$53,237
2024
$52,966
2025
$52,570
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $53,237
2024 $52,966
2025 $52,570
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Rail Car Cleaner

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Rail Car Cleaner

Here are companies hiring for Rail Car Cleaner and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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