Switchable dual-wavelength fiber lasers with orthogonal polarizations, based on the semiconductor optical amplifier at room temperature, are proposed. One polarization-maintaining fiber Bragg grating ͑PMFBG͒ is used as the wavelength-selective filter in three different laser configurations. Owing to the polarization-dependent loss of the PM-FBG, the laser can be designed to operate in stable dual-wavelength or wavelength-switching modes with a wavelength spacing of 0.336 nm at room temperature by adjusting a polarization controller in each laser configuration. The amplitude variation over nearly half an hour is less than 0.1 dB for both wavelengths in each laser configuration, which is more stable than that of erbium-doped fiber lasers with similar configuration.