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What Does it Take to Be a Signal and Track Switch Repairer?
Occupation Description Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
Life As a Signal & Track Switch Repairer: What Do They Do?
- Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
- Clean lenses of lamps with cloths and solvents.
- Tighten loose bolts, using wrenches, and test circuits and connections by opening and closing gates.
- Inspect, maintain, and replace batteries as needed.
- Install, inspect, maintain, and repair various railroad service equipment on the road or in the shop, including railroad signal systems.
- Replace defective wiring, broken lenses, or burned-out light bulbs.
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What a Signal & Track Switch Repairer Should Know
These are the skills Signal and Track Switch Repairers say are the most useful in their careers:
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Related Job Titles
- Signalman
- Signal Maintenance Technician
- Gate Technician
- Rail Track Maintainer
- Signal Supervisor
Is There Going to be Demand for Signal and Track Switch Repairers?
In the United States, there were 10,000 jobs for Signal and Track Switch Repairer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 200 new jobs for Signal and Track Switch Repairer by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,000 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Signal & Track Switch Repairer are Utah, Nebraska, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Signal & Track Switch Repairer Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Signal and Track Switch Repairers is somewhere between $36,680 and $91,760.
Signal and Track Switch Repairers who work in North Dakota, California, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
How much do Signal and Track Switch Repairers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $83,960 |
| Colorado | $54,250 |
| Florida | $56,380 |
| Georgia | $59,920 |
| Illinois | $76,110 |
| Indiana | $71,480 |
| Kansas | $61,570 |
| Kentucky | $73,710 |
| Massachusetts | $71,290 |
| Michigan | $65,610 |
| Minnesota | $39,660 |
| Missouri | $58,990 |
| Nebraska | $63,370 |
| New Jersey | $69,930 |
| North Carolina | $69,910 |
| North Dakota | $79,510 |
| Oklahoma | $58,310 |
| Oregon | $72,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,770 |
| Tennessee | $62,370 |
| Texas | $68,100 |
| Virginia | $74,860 |
| Washington | $74,550 |
| Wisconsin | $66,260 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Signal and Track Switch Repairers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Signal and Track Switch Repairers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Maintenance management software
Becoming a Signal & Track Switch Repairer
What education or degrees do I need to become a Signal and Track Switch Repairer?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Signal and Track Switch Repairers Work?
Signal and Track Switch Repairers work in the following industries:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Signal and Track Switch Repairer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
- Gas Plant Operators
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
References:
Image Credit: Fran Hogan via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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