How much does a signal repairer make?
a year · about $44 an hour
A typical signal repairer in the United States makes $92,460 a year, about $44 an hour, about 1.8× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They drive to a crossing or track switch, inspect its lights, wires, bolts, batteries, and moving parts, then test the circuits and gate. They record repairs and often work outdoors in changing weather.
Did you know? Some signal repairers inspect “hotbox” detectors—trackside infrared sensors that spot train-wheel bearings getting dangerously hot.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $62,610 and $119,550How do you become one?
In the United States, finish high school or earn a GED, then apply for an entry-level signal job or registered apprenticeship. The railroad provides hands-on training and knowledge checks, then certifies you before you work on its signal systems.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can rise with experience, in-demand skills, and railroad certification. It also varies by employer and location; extra hours or night-shift premiums can change total pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($126,440), lowest in Ohio ($58,840).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $62,610 | $92,460 | $119,550 | about 9,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $126,440 | about 160 |
| Washington | $121,710 | about 210 |
| Minnesota | $96,780 | about 80 |
| Arizona | $96,460 | about 100 |
| Virginia | $95,620 | about 170 |
Official definition: Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9097.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes499097.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/communications/newsroom/press-releases/fra-continues
- railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/fra_net/18667/Wayside%20Detector%20Imp
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY