Occupations/49-9097.00

Signal and Track Switch Repairers

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

Certificate or two-year

Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.

AI automation risk

40%

Mixed exposure

Human characteristics

45%

Balanced human and task mix

Task orientation

45%

Mixed exposure

A day in this job

Mostly routine
Inspect and test operation, mechanical parts, and circuitry of gate crossings, signals, and signal equipment such as interlocks and hotbox detectors.
Mostly routine
Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
Mostly routine
Install, inspect, maintain, and repair various railroad service equipment on the road or in the shop, including railroad signal systems.

The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.

Core tasks

01Inspect and test operation, mechanical parts, and circuitry of gate crossings, signals, and signal equipment such as interlocks and hotbox detectors.
02Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
03Test and repair track circuits.
04Drive motor vehicles to job sites.
05Install, inspect, maintain, and repair various railroad service equipment on the road or in the shop, including railroad signal systems.
06Tighten loose bolts, using wrenches, and test circuits and connections by opening and closing gates.

Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)

Repeating same tasks3.07
Degree of automation2.00
Time sitting2.41
Originality (ability)2.00
Conflict situations1.98
Hands-on objects/tools4.24
Outdoors / weather4.67
Disease exposure1.21
Decision freedom4.44

Top abilities

Problem Sensitivity3.75
Control Precision3.75
Arm-Hand Steadiness3.75
Visualization3.62
Visual Color Discrimination3.62
Manual Dexterity3.62
Flexibility of Closure3.62
Finger Dexterity3.62

Essential skills

Reading Comprehension2.88
Active Listening3.00
Writing2.88
Speaking2.88
Mathematics2.50
Science1.75
Critical Thinking3.75
Active Learning2.88
Learning Strategies2.62
Monitoring2.88

CIP matches

46.0302Electrician

Schools offering related programs

11 shown

Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.

Institution	Program	Tuition	Admit	Grad 6-yr	Earnings
Saint Paul College St. Paul, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,100	100%	29%	1 yr — 2 yr $41,937 Certificate · CIP 46.03
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$5,900	100%	28%	1 yr $41,193 2 yr $41,193 Certificate · CIP 46.03
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,000	100%	31%	1 yr $41,160 2 yr — Associate · CIP 46.03
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$5,800	100%	33%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 46.03
Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,200	100%	33%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported
Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,200	100%	38%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported
Ridgewater College Willmar, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,100	100%	36%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported
Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,000	100%	37%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$2,900	100%	41%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 46.03
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$16,100	88%	82%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 46.03
Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN · Public	Electrician 46.0302	$6,300	100%	48%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported