Rail construction and maintenance operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £45,500 per year, equivalent to £20.26 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 7.3% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £41,000 in North West to £54,000 in East. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £46,403/yr (2% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£45,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£20.26
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+7.3%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£38,000 – £54,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Rail construction and maintenance operatives across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| East | £54,000 |
| South East | £50,000 |
| West Midlands | £46,500 |
| Scotland | £46,500 |
| South West | £44,500 |
| Wales | £44,000 |
| North East | £43,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £43,500 |
| London | £43,500 |
| East Midlands | £42,000 |
| North West | £41,000 |
| UK | £45,500 |
Annual pay grew by +7.3% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Rail construction and maintenance operatives.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Rail construction and maintenance operatives in the UK is £45,500 per year (about £20.26 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Rail construction and maintenance operatives earn between £38,000 and £54,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Rail construction and maintenance operatives pay rose by 7.3% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Rail construction and maintenance operatives is in East, at £54,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Rail construction and maintenance operatives roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Rail construction and maintenance operatives lay, re-lay, repair and examine railway track and maintain surrounding areas.
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Off and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/SVQs in Rail Engineering and apprenticeships at levels 2 and 3 are available.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.