Signal and track switch repairers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $92,460 | $44.45 |
| Mean (average) | $90,410 | $43.47 |
| 90th percentile | $119,550 | $57.48 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Signal and track switch repairers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 23 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $96,460 | $61,880 | $121,270 | 100 | 0.56 |
| California | $84,670 | $64,650 | $126,370 | 390 | 0.38 |
| Colorado | $83,930 | $66,120 | $95,790 | 160 | 1.01 |
| Florida | $78,680 | $64,760 | $78,900 | 290 | 0.53 |
| Georgia | $79,860 | $49,100 | $120,590 | 440 | 1.59 |
| Illinois | $95,610 | $78,670 | $125,340 | 720 | 2.1 |
| Indiana | $92,200 | $83,820 | $92,460 | 220 | 1.24 |
| Kansas | $83,550 | $83,550 | $85,600 | 120 | 1.44 |
| Kentucky | $75,870 | $53,370 | $75,950 | 60 | 0.51 |
| Massachusetts | $126,440 | $74,690 | $160,180 | 160 | 0.77 |
| Michigan | $93,060 | $64,620 | $118,090 | 120 | 0.48 |
| Minnesota | $96,780 | $69,790 | $96,910 | 80 | 0.48 |
| Missouri | $86,300 | $61,430 | $86,530 | 250 | 1.51 |
| New Jersey | $82,990 | $68,190 | $105,850 | 260 | 1.08 |
| New York | $94,530 | $90,480 | $103,510 | 1,910 | 3.51 |
| Ohio | $58,840 | $58,670 | $85,220 | 150 | 0.49 |
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.68 | ||
| Pennsylvania | Data unavailable | 260 | 0.77 | ||
| Tennessee | $79,730 | $59,590 | $98,120 | 190 | 1.03 |
| Texas | $85,020 | $52,830 | $85,360 | 650 | 0.82 |
| Virginia | $95,620 | $77,560 | $95,620 | 170 | 0.74 |
| Washington | $121,710 | $79,260 | $149,260 | 210 | 1.04 |
| Wisconsin | $85,440 | $60,790 | $104,380 | 60 | 0.38 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for signal and track switch repairers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 13.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for signal and track switch repairers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Electrician CIP 46.0302
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Maintenance management software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Troubleshooting, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Selection.
Common job titles: Railroad Signal Maintainer, Signal and Communications Maintainer, Signal Inspector, Signal Maintainer, Signal Maintenance Technician, Signal System Testing Maintainer, Signal Technician, Signalman, Train Control Electronic Technician, Train Control Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do signal and track switch repairers make?
The national median annual wage for signal and track switch repairers was $92,460 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $62,610 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $119,550. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do signal and track switch repairers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is signal and track switch repairers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of signal and track switch repairers to change +1.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay signal and track switch repairers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($126,440), Washington ($121,710), Minnesota ($96,780). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.