Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Less than a High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:TroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Signal and Track Switch Repairers pay by experience level
Entry level$65,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$82,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$95,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$103,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$123,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
800
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Signal and Track Switch Repairers salary by industry
Rail Transportation
6,460 workers
$94,000
Rail Transportation
6,460 workers
$94,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
1,870 workers
$96,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,850 workers
$96,500
Support Activities for Transportation
100 workers
$55,500
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
100 workers
$55,500
Specialty Trade Contractors$58,000
Building Equipment Contractors$58,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Signal and Track Switch Repairers pays 41% above the average across 52 roles in the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair job family (family average $66,500).
Similar-paying roles in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Signal and Track Switch Repairers make?
The average base salary for a Signal and Track Switch Repairers in the United States is $93,500 per year, or about $44.95 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $82,500 and $103,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair roles?
The Installation, Maintenance, and Repair job family averages $66,500 across 52 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Signal and Track Switch Repairers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
