Mid-Level

Train Clerk

Train clerks handle clerical work in train operations โ€” processing manifests, tracking cars and consignments, and supporting the operational paperwork of rail.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
S
E
R
I
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Socialhelping, teaching
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Train Clerks
Employment concentration ยท ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Train Clerk

Workdays involve steady processing work โ€” entering manifests, tracking cars, processing waybills, and maintaining records. The work tends to be focused and detail-heavy, with the rhythms of rail operations driving the pace โ€” train arrivals and departures structure the day.

Collaboration usually involves operations staff, customers, and other rail entities. What's harder than expected is the precision required โ€” small errors in manifests or tracking can have real operational consequences, including delayed cars and misrouted freight.

People who thrive tend to be methodical, accurate, and comfortable with the rail industry's pace. If you find satisfaction in supporting freight or passenger rail operations, the role often suits you. People who need fast feedback or who don't connect to the operational side of rail usually find the work too narrow โ€” though for those drawn to the industry, it's often a stable, long-term career.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
โœฆ Editorial โ€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape โ€” and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Train Clerks (SOC 43-4181.00, 43-9061.00), not just this title ยท BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Train Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit โ€” and plan your path forward.
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โœฆ Editorial โ€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape โ€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$29Kโ€“$75K
Salary Range
10th โ€“ 90th percentile
2.6M
U.S. Employment
-1.95%
10yr Growth
297K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034

Skills & Requirements

Service OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingPersuasion
O*NET OnLine ยท Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-4181.0043-9061.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS Employment Projections ยท O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.