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Signal and Track Switch Repairers in Illinois
Considering working as a Signal and Track Switch Repairers in Illinois? Below are the key facts. Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
What do Signal and Track Switch Repairers Make in Illinois?
For signal and track switch repairers working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $87,250 per year (or roughly $41.95/hour).Pay can range from $66,460 at the 10th percentile to $117,620 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,460 | $31.95 |
| 25th percentile | $82,240 | $39.54 |
| Median (50th) | $87,250 | $41.95 |
| 75th percentile | $98,460 | $47.34 |
| 90th percentile | $117,620 | $56.55 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Illinois relative to the national average — is 1.94, indicating that signal and track switch repairers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, signal and track switch repairers earn a median of $53,048 per year ($25.50/hour), higher than the Illinois median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 165,534 signal and track switch repairers across the United States. In Illinois alone, about 630 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 160 signal and track switch repairers.
Top States for Signal and Track Switch Repairers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most signal and track switch repairers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New York | 1,880 |
| Texas | 670 |
| Illinois | 630 |
| Georgia | 620 |
| California | 350 |
| Pennsylvania | 310 |
| Florida | 300 |
| New Jersey | 250 |
| Missouri | 220 |
| Washington | 170 |
| Indiana | 160 |
| Ohio | 160 |
| Wisconsin | 160 |
| Kansas | 140 |
| Massachusetts | 130 |
| Colorado | 130 |
| Michigan | 110 |
| Virginia | 110 |
| Tennessee | 90 |
| Oklahoma | 90 |
Highest-Paying States for Signal and Track Switch Repairers
Where signal and track switch repairers earn the most: signal and track switch repairers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $101,800 |
| New York | $92,280 |
| Washington | $92,080 |
| Indiana | $89,110 |
| Illinois | $87,250 |
| Missouri | $84,240 |
| Kansas | $83,860 |
| Texas | $83,000 |
| California | $82,650 |
| Wisconsin | $82,060 |
Skills
Top signal and track switch repairers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for signal and track switch repairers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Getting Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Other careers like signal and track switch repairers include:
- Lighting Technicians
- Electricians
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
- Avionics Technicians
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
Also Known As
Communications Maintainer, Electric Track Switch Maintainer, Gate Technician, Light Rail Signal Technician, Rail Signal Designer, Rail Signal Inspector, Rail Signal Mechanic, Rail Track Maintainer, Railroad Signal Maintainer, Railroad Transportation Signal Maintainer, Railway Signal Technician, Register Repairer, Signal Expert, Signal Inspector, Signal Maintainer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 49-9097.00
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