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Signal maintainer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$92,460median pay per year, or $44.45 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,610lowest 10% earn less
  2. $79,72025th percentile
  3. $92,460median
  4. $99,32075th percentile
  5. $119,550top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Signal and track switch repairers had a median pay of $92,460 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, below the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.8%[2]
Openings per year
800[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do signal maintainers make?

The BLS category is Signal and Track Switch Repairers. Workers report titles such as railroad signal maintainer and signal technician[8]. The median pay was $92,460 a year, or $44.45 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $90,410 a year, or $43.47 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,610 a year, and the 25th percentile was $79,720[4]. The 75th percentile was $99,320 and the 90th percentile was $119,550[4]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $30.10 and the 90th percentile was $57.48[10]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[11].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or some bonuses[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state data for 21 states[13]. Massachusetts had the highest median at $126,440, followed by Washington at $121,710 and Minnesota at $96,780[13]. Ohio had the lowest published median at $58,840[13].

New York had the most jobs at 1,910[14]. Illinois (720), Texas (650), Georgia (440) and California (390) followed[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had a median of $121,710, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had $94,530[15]. The New York area had 1,080 jobs and Seattle had 170[16].

Show median pay in 21 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[13]$126,440160
Washington$121,710210
Minnesota$96,78080
Arizona$96,460100
Virginia$95,620170
Illinois$95,610720
New York$94,5301,910
Michigan$93,060120
Indiana$92,200220
Missouri$86,300250
Wisconsin$85,44060
Texas$85,020650
California$84,670390
Colorado$83,930160
Kansas$83,550120
New Jersey$82,990260
Georgia$79,860440
Tennessee$79,730190
Florida$78,680290
Kentucky$75,87060
Ohio$58,840150

How to become a signal maintainer

In an ONET survey of 14 workers, 34% said less than a high school diploma is required, 29% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 24% said a post-secondary certificate and 10% said some college courses[17]. This is a small survey. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, where previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[18].

What signal maintainers do

O*NET describes the work as installing, inspecting, testing, maintaining and repairing railroad crossing gates, signals, track switches and related systems[19]. Typical tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,700 to 8,900 jobs[2]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers, who were 13.7% of the total in 2025[2][21].

About 800 openings a year are projected[6]. They include jobs opened by retirements and moves to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to another occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is well above the all-occupation median, and the typical entry education is a high school diploma[1][5][7]. Training is moderate-term on the job[7]. Growth is slower than average, and openings are modest at about 800 a year[2][3][6]. The facts suggest it suits people who want a well-paid trades job and are comfortable with hands-on inspection and repair work[20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a signal maintainer make an hour?
The median pay was $44.45 an hour in May 2025[1].
What education do you need to be a signal maintainer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
Is signal maintainer work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 800 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for signal and track switch repairers?
Massachusetts had the highest state median at $126,440[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Signal and Track Switch Repairers in the US was $92,460 per year and $44.45 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Signal and Track Switch Repairers is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,700 to 8,900 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Signal and Track Switch Repairers: 10th percentile $62,610, 25th percentile $79,720, 75th percentile $99,320, 90th percentile $119,550. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 800 openings for Signal and Track Switch Repairers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Signal and Track Switch Repairers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 49-9097.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Railroad Signal Maintainer, Signal and Communications Maintainer, Signal Inspector, Signal Maintainer, Signal Maintenance Technician, Signal System Testing Maintainer, Signal Technician, Signalman. O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Signal and Track Switch Repairers was $90,410 per year and $43.47 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Signal and Track Switch Repairers: 10th percentile $30.10, 25th percentile $38.33, 75th percentile $47.75, 90th percentile $57.48. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Signal and Track Switch Repairers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Signal and Track Switch Repairers jobs: New York 1,910; Illinois 720; Texas 650; Georgia 440; California 390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Signal and Track Switch Repairers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $121,710; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $94,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Signal and Track Switch Repairers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,080 (median $94,530); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 170 (median $121,710). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 49-9097.00 survey of workers (14 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 34%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 29%, Post-Secondary Certificate 24%, Some College Courses 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 49-9097.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Signal and Track Switch Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Signal and Track Switch Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 13.7% of Signal and Track Switch Repairers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Signal and Track Switch Repairers: 3.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.