Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time rail and rolling stock builders and repairers in the UK earned a median £64,322 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 65% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 13th of 382 occupations on this measure.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
ASHE counts roughly 5,000 employee jobs, 100% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 40.7% (from £45,726), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 16,800 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | – | £908.10* | £23.21* | – | £886.10* | £22.62* |
| 30th percentile | £56,955* | £943.30* | £24.64* | £56,955* | £932.30* | £24.27* |
| 40th percentile | £59,761* | £1,105.10 | £30.31* | £59,761* | £1,096.70 | £30.11* |
| Median (50th percentile) | £64,322* | £1,169.10* | £31.41 | £64,322* | £1,164.50* | £30.97 |
| 60th percentile | £67,170* | £1,220.00* | £33.16* | £67,170* | £1,197.00* | £32.64* |
| 70th percentile | – | – | – | – | £1,308.80* | £34.29* |
| Mean | £65,069 | £1,220.60 | £30.87 | £65,069 | £1,196.90 | £30.56 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £45,726* | £673.60* | £16.58* | £45,726* | £673.60* | – |
| 2022 revised | £45,125* | £856.00* | £19.03* | £38,336* | £822.50* | – |
| 2023 revised | £52,320* | £907.60* | £20.61* | – | £898.10* | – |
| 2024 revised | £56,983* | £1,108.40* | £29.65 | £56,983* | £1,104.90* | 5* |
| 2025 provisional | £64,322* | £1,169.10* | £31.41 | £64,322* | £1,164.50* | 5* |
Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers by region
UK: 16,800 (± 5,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What rail and rolling stock builders and repairers do
Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers erect, fit, assemble and repair rolling stock parts and sub-assemblies, and test and adjust new engines for trains. (ONS SOC 2020, 5236)
Also covers: coach repairer (railways), mechanical fitter (railway and rolling stock), railway engineer, rolling stock technician, service engineer (railway, rolling stock maintenance), body maker, brake examiner, carriage examiner, carriage fitter, carriage repairer, coach examiner, coach repairer, engine tuber, engineer (nos), fleet engineer, frame fitter, locomotive fitter and locomotive stripper (36 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines drawings and specifications to determine appropriate methods and sequence of operations
- Fits and assembles parts and/or metal sub-assemblies to make train engines
- Examines rolling stock for defects, removes, replaces and repairs faulty parts
- Inspects and tests new and repaired machinery for conformity with standards and specifications
- Oils and greases train engines
- Maintains record of repairs and maintenance carried out
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades or a BTEC/SQA award. Apprenticeships at level 3 and other vocational qualifications at level 2 and 3 are available.
Related
Vehicle trades (median £37,917) · Boat and ship builders and repairers · Aircraft maintenance and related trades · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026