A snap acting switch has a switch blade which is pivotally mounted for movement between two positions and is normally held in one position by an actuator spring. An actuator lever is pivotally mounted on the switch housing and has an external lever arm portion and an inner lever arm portion within the housing which is engageable with the actuator spring to move the spring laterally past the longitudinal axis of the switch blade in response to movement of the external actuator lever arm portion, to thereby cause snap acting movement of the switch blade from its normal position to a second position. Release of pressure on the external lever arm portion permits the actuator spring to cause snap acting movement of the switch blade back to its normal position.