Signal and Track Switch Repairers

Median salary

$92,460

Average salary

$90,410

Employment

8,720

Projected growth

1.7% growth

Annual openings

800

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Signal and Track Switch Repairers Do

Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 15.3%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Transportationimportance 3.7/5
Mechanicalimportance 3.7/5
English Languageimportance 3.6/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.5/5
Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.1/5
Telecommunicationsimportance 3.1/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.0/5
Building and Constructionimportance 2.9/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.7/5
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.7/5
Health and Safety of Other Workers4.6/5
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.6/5
Telephone Conversations4.5/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers95% skill match
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists95% skill match
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers95% skill match
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians94% skill match
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers94% skill match
Rail Car Repairers94% skill match
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door94% skill match
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics94% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Troubleshootingimportance 4.1/5
Equipment Maintenanceimportance 4.0/5
Repairingimportance 4.0/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.9/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.8/5
Equipment Selectionimportance 3.6/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.4/5
Operation and Controlimportance 3.1/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Cautiousness
Dependability
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Perseverance
Stress Tolerance
Achievement Orientation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeLow
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow
ArtisticLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where signal and track switch repairers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).