How much does a signal repairer make?

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.

Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.

What's a typical day like?

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.

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.

Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

Some signal repairers inspect “hotbox” detectors—trackside infrared sensors that spot train-wheel bearings getting dangerously hot.