Life As a Signal & Track Switch Repairer

Example of a Signal & Track Switch Repairer Job Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.

A Day in the Life of a Signal & Track Switch Repairer

• Lubricate moving parts on gate-crossing mechanisms and swinging signals.
• Record and report information about mileage or track inspected, repairs performed, and equipment requiring replacement.
• Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
• Replace defective wiring, broken lenses, or burned-out light bulbs.
• Tighten loose bolts, using wrenches, and test circuits and connections by opening and closing gates.
• Drive motor vehicles to job sites.

Things a Signal & Track Switch Repairer Should Know How to Do

Signal and Track Switch Repairers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Signal Worker
• Rail Signal Designer
• Signal Mechanic
• Train Control Technician
• Signal Maintenance Technician

Job Demand for Signal and Track Switch Repairers

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 10,000 jobs in the United States for Signal and Track Switch Repairers.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.3% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 100 new jobs for Signal and Track Switch Repairers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,000 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Signal and Track Switch Repairers are Texas, New York, and Illinois.

Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Signal and Track Switch Repairers

The typical yearly salary for Signal and Track Switch Repairers is somewhere between $36,680 and $91,760. The median salary for this occupation is $70,490.

How much do Signal and Track Switch Repairers make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$83,960
North Dakota	$79,510
Illinois	$76,110
Virginia	$74,860
Washington	$74,550
Kentucky	$73,710
Oregon	$72,870
Indiana	$71,480
Massachusetts	$71,290
New Jersey	$69,930
North Carolina	$69,910
Pennsylvania	$69,770
Texas	$68,100
Wisconsin	$66,260
Michigan	$65,610
Nebraska	$63,370
Tennessee	$62,370
Kansas	$61,570
Georgia	$59,920
Missouri	$58,990
Oklahoma	$58,310
Florida	$56,380
Colorado	$54,250
Minnesota	$39,660

What Tools do Signal and Track Switch Repairers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Signal and Track Switch Repairers:

• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Outlook

How to Become a Signal & Track Switch Repairer

What education or degrees do I need to become a Signal and Track Switch Repairer?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Signal and Track Switch Repairers Are Employed

Related Careers

Those who work as Signal and Track Switch Repairers sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Gas Plant Operators
• Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons