Also called: Signal Technician, Signal Inspector
Installs, tests, and repairs the signals, crossing gates, and switches that keep trains safe.
You get a call that crossing gates in a small town are stuck down, so you drive out, open a metal bungalow full of relays, and find the fault. You also do scheduled tests on signals, often outdoors in rain or snow.
Based on BLS signal and track switch repairers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate in electronics is helpful; railroads provide extensive training.
Ways in: 2-year college, On-the-job training, Apprenticeship. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Electronics Technology, Electrical Technology.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Steady.
Low risk for 10 years. Remote monitoring flags faults; climbing, wiring and testing signals trackside stay hands-on.
Classes: Electronics, Physics, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 49-9097.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.