Signal and Track Switch Repairers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 49-9097.00United States

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

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $92,080
Projected change: +4.8%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 11.45K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What signal and track switch repairers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Inspect, maintain, and replace batteries as needed.
Record and report information about mileage or track inspected, repairs performed, and equipment requiring replacement.
Lubricate moving parts on gate-crossing mechanisms and swinging signals.
Clean lenses of lamps with cloths and solvents.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $62,033
25th percentile: $79,162
50th percentile: $92,080
75th percentile: $99,430
90th percentile: $120,636

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $92,080 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+4.8%average or slower

202511,454 jobs

2035 projected12,004 jobs

550 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 62.7%
Certificate: 23.8%
Some college: 9.6%
Associate degree: 3.9%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Hand Tools
Power Tool Operation
Automotive Services
Vehicle Maintenance
Transmission
Welding
Electrical Systems
Fabrication
Machinery
Technical Communication
Wrenches
Grinding Machine
Painting
Safety Standards
Technical Training
Test Equipment
Diesel Engines
Drilling
Operating Systems
Precision Measuring Equipment

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Installation: Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Transmission Rebuilders14 postings
02Carmen3 postings
03Walkers3 postings
04CDL Operators2 postings
05Production Welders2 postings
06Railroad Engineers2 postings
07Training Instructors2 postings
08Equipment Operators1 postings
09Foremen1 postings
10Mechanical Contractors1 postings
11Mobile Equipment Operators1 postings
12Signal Maintainers1 postings
13Small Arms Repair Technicians1 postings
14Track Foremen1 postings
15Track Managers1 postings
16Vehicle Maintenance Technicians1 postings

Top employers

01Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority7 postings
02Florida East Coast Railway3 postings
03Progress Rail Services3 postings
04American Industrial Transport2 postings
05Herzog And Company2 postings
06Nlx Corporation2 postings
07United States Department of Defense2 postings
08A Affordable Transmissions1 postings
09Abc Transmission Service1 postings
10Accent Controls1 postings
11Allstate Transmission1 postings
12Apex Transmissions1 postings
13Bill's Transmission1 postings
14Express Employment Professionals1 postings
15Health And Hospital Corporation1 postings
16Jaguar Transport1 postings
17KEITH's TRANSMISSION SERVICE1 postings
18Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority1 postings
19Quality Transmissions And Total Car Care1 postings
20Union Pacific1 postings

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