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Career

Signal and Track Switch Repairers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $92,460 Median per year · $44.45/hr Most earn $62,610–$119,550

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
  • Install, inspect, maintain, and repair various railroad service equipment on the road or in the shop, including railroad signal systems.
  • 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.
  • Lubricate moving parts on gate-crossing mechanisms and swinging signals.
  • Inspect and test operation, mechanical parts, and circuitry of gate crossings, signals, and signal equipment such as interlocks and hotbox detectors.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Rail transportation59.9%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals21.7%
  • Self-employed (their own business)13.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is usually an entry-level job. Many people start with a high school diploma and learn most of the work on the job, and it typically takes about 6 months to 1 year of related experience before you're doing it on your own.

  1. High school diploma with math and electronics coursework

    4 years

    Strong math, physics, and any electronics or shop classes build the basics of circuits and wiring that signal work relies on.

  2. Entry-level railroad helper or trainee

    6 months - 1 year

    You assist experienced signal crews, learn railroad safety rules, and practice installing, testing, and troubleshooting equipment under supervision.

  3. Signal and Track Switch Repairer

    Ongoing

    You work on your own to install, inspect, test, and repair signals, track switches, and crossing equipment across the railroad.

Where it can lead

  1. Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take on more complex electrical and electronic systems and often need more formal training or certification to handle them independently.

  2. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

    1-2 years of experience first

    You broaden your skills to diagnose and repair a wider range of industrial electronic systems, which can open doors beyond the railroad.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics and electronics or shop classesHands-on circuit and wiring experience gives you a head start on how signal equipment works.
  • Join a robotics or electronics clubBuilding and troubleshooting projects teaches you to find and fix electrical problems step by step.
  • Get a summer or part-time job with a utility, construction crew, or hardware storeWorking with tools and following safety rules shows employers you can handle field work.
  • Practice reading wiring diagrams and basic schematicsReading diagrams is a core skill for installing and repairing signal systems.
  • Take a first aid or basic safety course if your school offers oneSafety certifications make you a more attractive candidate for field jobs.

In college

  • Take electrical circuits, electronics, or industrial technology coursesA technical or associate-level program in electronics gives you the hands-on knowledge employers look for in signal work.
  • Apply for a railroad or utility internship or co-opField experience with a rail or utility crew shows you what the day-to-day work is really like.
  • Work a campus job in facilities, IT, or maintenanceTroubleshooting equipment and keeping systems running builds practical repair habits.
  • Join an engineering, robotics, or amateur radio clubThese groups give you project experience and a network of people who work with electronics.
  • Earn workplace safety certification such as OSHA-10 if availableSafety credentials show employers you understand the hazards of working near trains and live electrical equipment.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a railroad or local utility whether they hire helpers or trainees, and say you want to learn signal work. Showing up reliable and eager often counts for more than past experience.
  • Get comfortable with basic tools, multimeters, and safety habits now, since safety rules are central to this job and employers value people who already take them seriously.
  • Take a look at the pay information on the career page near you and nationally, so you know what to expect as you plan your next steps.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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