Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Signal and track switch repairers work in a specialized technical role focused on maintaining and repairing critical systems. Nationally, there are 9,000 people employed in this occupation, with a projected growth rate of 1.7% and about 1,000 openings each year. This combination suggests a relatively small but ongoing labor market. The career relies on a mix of mechanical ability, fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and comfort with mathematics and science. Employers typically look for detail-oriented workers who can solve problems, make sound decisions, and use computers and information technology effectively. Strong critical and analytical thinking, along with solid reading and writing skills, also matter. With a national median salary of $83,600 and specific states and metro areas offering even higher pay, this can be an attractive path for people interested in hands-on technical work supported by a high school education and strong skill development.
Signal and track switch repairers earn a national median annual salary of $83,600. Pay levels vary by location, with several states standing out. In Massachusetts, the median salary is $126,440, and in Washington it is $121,710, both well above the national median. New York offers $94,530, while California and Colorado are closer to the national level at $84,670 and $83,930, respectively. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro has a median of $94,530, and the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro aligns with Washington’s statewide median of $121,710. These figures show that workers who are geographically flexible may find significantly different earning potential depending on where they work. For individuals with strong mechanical, technical, and problem-solving skills, this field can provide solid earnings based on a high school diploma or equivalent.
Signal and track switch repairers have national employment of 9,000, with projected growth of 1.7%. The occupation is expected to generate about 1,000 openings per year. This combination of modest growth and a steady number of openings suggests that opportunities will come from both new positions and turnover in existing roles. The 1.7% projected growth rate applies consistently to leading states and key metro areas identified for this field, indicating a relatively uniform outlook across these locations. For job seekers, the annual openings figure is important because it reflects the practical number of chances to enter or advance in the occupation each year. People who bring the highlighted skills—mechanical ability, detail orientation, critical thinking, and comfort with computers, mathematics, and science—may be well positioned to compete for these roles as openings arise over time.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for signal and track switch repairers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington rank highest by CareerGPS opportunity score. Massachusetts (score 65.87) and Washington (56.29) stand out for high median salaries of $126,440 and $121,710, though they have relatively small employment levels of 160 and 210. New York combines a strong opportunity score of 65.78 with the highest employment among these states at 1,910 and a median salary of $94,530. California and Colorado offer median salaries around the national median with opportunity scores of 67.38 and 56.97. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City has an opportunity score of 77.27, a median salary of $94,530, and employment of 1,080, making it a major center for this occupation. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offers a high median salary of $121,710 with 170 employed and an opportunity score of 61.92.
The typical education requirement for signal and track switch repairers is a high school diploma or equivalent. While the formal education barrier is relatively accessible, success in this field depends heavily on a robust skill set. Mechanical skills, fine motor ability, and physical strength and stamina are central to the work. Mathematics and science support the technical aspects of the role, while computers and information technology skills help workers interact with modern systems and tools. Being detail oriented is important, as is strong problem solving and decision making. Critical and analytical thinking enable workers to evaluate situations and choose effective solutions. Solid writing and reading skills help with understanding instructions, documenting work, and communicating effectively. For students and career changers, focusing on these skills—through school, training, or hands-on experiences—can be an effective way to prepare for this occupation given the high school level educational expectation.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
