Signal and Track Switch Repairers: Career Profile
Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
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What Do Signal and Track Switch Repairers Do?
The core tasks performed by signal and track switch repairers cover:
- Inspect and test operation, mechanical parts, and circuitry of gate crossings, signals, and signal equipment such as interlocks and hotbox detectors.
- Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
- Test and repair track circuits.
- Drive motor vehicles to job sites.
- Install, inspect, maintain, and repair various railroad service equipment on the road or in the shop, including railroad signal systems.
- Tighten loose bolts, using wrenches, and test circuits and connections by opening and closing gates.
- Inspect switch-controlling mechanisms on trolley wires and in track beds, using hand tools and test equipment.
- Replace defective wiring, broken lenses, or burned-out light bulbs.
What Signal and Track Switch Repairers Need to Know
Effective signal and track switch repairers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Communications Maintainer
- Electric Track Switch Maintainer
- Gate Technician
- Light Rail Signal Technician
- Rail Signal Designer
- Rail Signal Inspector
- Rail Signal Mechanic
- Rail Track Maintainer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 165,534 signal and track switch repairers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.2% over the projection horizon.
Signal and Track Switch Repairers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $53,048 |
| Hourly median | $25.50 |
| 10th percentile | $32,849 |
| 25th percentile | $42,949 |
| 75th percentile | $63,148 |
| 90th percentile | $73,248 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Signal and Track Switch Repairers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $101,800 |
| New York | $92,280 |
| Washington | $92,080 |
| Indiana | $89,110 |
| Illinois | $87,250 |
| Missouri | $84,240 |
| Kansas | $83,860 |
| Texas | $83,000 |
| California | $82,650 |
| Wisconsin | $82,060 |
| Colorado | $81,790 |
| Oregon | $81,180 |
| New Jersey | $80,880 |
| Michigan | $80,040 |
| Minnesota | $79,370 |
| Florida | $79,270 |
| Tennessee | $78,650 |
| Arizona | $76,830 |
| Virginia | $75,840 |
| North Carolina | $74,320 |
| Ohio | $57,410 |
| Georgia | $56,130 |
| Kentucky | $55,110 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for signal and track switch repairers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $101,800 | 1.9% | 0.65 |
| Far Western US | $85,125 | 8.6% | 0.57 |
| Plains States | $83,620 | 5.7% | 1.41 |
| Great Lakes | $82,249 | 17.5% | 1.38 |
| Rocky Mountains | $81,790 | 1.9% | 0.84 |
| Middle Atlantic | $79,387 | 35.0% | 3.09 |
| Southwest | $73,519 | 12.1% | 0.88 |
| Southeast | $65,734 | 17.4% | 1.48 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $106,220 | 120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $92,280 | 1,070 |
Top Industries Employing Signal and Track Switch Repairers
The largest employers of signal and track switch repairers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 6,030 | $83,340 |
Below are examples of industries where signal and track switch repairers work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for signal and track switch repairers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Typical signal and track switch repairers positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Lighting Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electricians (Supplemental)
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers (Supplemental)
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (Supplemental)
- Avionics Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment (Primary-Short)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future signal and track switch repairers often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-9097.00 (Signal and Track Switch Repairers).
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