Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
National median · BLS
$92,460
▲ +10.6%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$90,410
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
8,720
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Signal and Track Switch Repairers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$62,610
25th
$79,720
Median (50th)
$92,460
75th
$99,320
90th — top pay
$119,550
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Signal and Track Switch Repairers
BLS projects employment of signal and track switch repairers to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
8,700 → 8,900
+200 jobs
Projected change
+1.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
13.7% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Signal and Track Switch Repairers salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Signal and Track Switch Repairers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Signal and Track Switch Repairers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Troubleshooting4.1
Equipment Maintenance4.0
Repairing4.0
Quality Control Analysis3.9
Critical Thinking3.8
Operations Monitoring3.8
Equipment Selection3.6
Complex Problem Solving3.4
Operation and Control3.1
Active Listening3.0
Top knowledge areas
Transportation3.7
Mechanical3.7
English Language3.6
Public Safety and Security3.5
Engineering and Technology3.1
Telecommunications3.1
Computers and Electronics3.0
Building and Construction2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMaintenance management softwareSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareWeb browser software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 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.
About the job
What signal and track switch repairers do
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.
Also called
Signal InspectorSignal MaintainerSignalmanTrain Control Electronic TechnicianRailroad Signal MaintainerSignal and Communications MaintainerSignal Maintenance TechnicianSignal System Testing MaintainerSignal TechnicianTrain Control Technician
More job titles for this occupation (17)
Communications MaintainerElectric Track Switch MaintainerGate TechnicianLight Rail Signal TechnicianRail Signal DesignerRail Signal InspectorRail Signal MechanicRail Track MaintainerRailroad Transportation Signal MaintainerRailway Signal TechnicianRegister RepairerSignal ExpertSignal MechanicSignal Systems ExpertSignal WorkerTest Signal TechnicianTraffic Signal Inspector
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Signal and Track Switch Repairers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $92,460.
