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Skilled Trades

Signal and Track Switch Repairers

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

Median salary (BLS)

$92,460

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$63k – $120k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Signal and Track Switch Repairers

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Signal and Track Switch Repairers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Signal and Track Switch Repairers

    Entry / Junior

    $62,610

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Signal and Track Switch Repairers

    Established

    $92,460

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Signal and Track Switch Repairers

    Senior

    $106,005

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.