Locomotive engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,680 | $29.17 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $81,410 | $39.14 |
| Mean (average) | $85,900 | $41.30 |
| 90th percentile | $109,220 | $52.51 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Locomotive engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 36 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,600 | $39,290 | $87,380 | 590 | 1.3 |
| Arizona | $89,840 | $81,810 | $93,260 | 490 | 0.7 |
| Arkansas | $78,930 | $65,050 | $78,930 | 620 | 2.19 |
| California | $77,070 | $52,260 | $79,940 | 1,570 | 0.4 |
| Colorado | $89,360 | $57,730 | $125,830 | 480 | 0.77 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 290 | 2.73 | ||
| Florida | $92,310 | $80,070 | $94,560 | 350 | 0.16 |
| Illinois | $93,320 | $76,190 | $152,420 | 2,340 | 1.79 |
| Indiana | $92,790 | $62,830 | $129,020 | 1,030 | 1.49 |
| Iowa | $89,970 | $74,770 | $95,710 | 1,000 | 2.98 |
| Kansas | $75,190 | $60,660 | $78,300 | 1,020 | 3.31 |
| Kentucky | $77,620 | $61,820 | $98,080 | 540 | 1.25 |
| Louisiana | $64,200 | $47,180 | $73,630 | 700 | 1.69 |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 | $84,340 | $168,600 | 640 | 0.82 |
| Minnesota | $93,700 | $79,780 | $93,830 | 990 | 1.56 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | $59,790 | $211,440 | 300 | 1.19 |
| Missouri | $78,820 | $78,750 | $79,040 | 1,110 | 1.76 |
| Montana | $90,220 | $80,460 | $126,950 | 470 | 4.31 |
| New Hampshire | $70,670 | $49,430 | $77,110 | 30 | 0.23 |
| New Jersey | $86,550 | $85,930 | $107,060 | 830 | 0.9 |
| New Mexico | $88,330 | $83,960 | $92,880 | 440 | 2.36 |
| New York | $109,220 | $61,110 | $110,280 | 1,510 | 0.72 |
| North Carolina | $61,190 | $59,580 | $70,240 | 340 | 0.32 |
| Ohio | $63,280 | $63,110 | $77,130 | 200 | 0.17 |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 | $60,640 | $127,380 | 260 | 0.72 |
| Oregon | $79,130 | $67,440 | $83,630 | 580 | 1.37 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,460 | $60,250 | $100,870 | 1,430 | 1.1 |
| South Carolina | $89,290 | $58,350 | $89,290 | 380 | 0.77 |
| South Dakota | $69,180 | $62,730 | $81,640 | 150 | 1.57 |
| Tennessee | $81,410 | $66,060 | $91,490 | 700 | 1 |
| Texas | $79,000 | $58,700 | $79,310 | 3,780 | 1.25 |
| Virginia | $90,780 | $62,490 | $90,940 | 790 | 0.89 |
| Washington | $73,750 | $59,610 | $91,140 | 1,120 | 1.47 |
| West Virginia | $64,400 | $62,880 | $90,080 | 340 | 2.23 |
| Wisconsin | $84,550 | $61,780 | $84,600 | 220 | 0.35 |
| Wyoming | $78,910 | $63,440 | $105,080 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for locomotive engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for locomotive engineers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Railroad and Railway Transportation CIP 49.0208
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.
- Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
- Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.
Common job titles: Engineer, Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Railroad Engineer, Steam Locomotive Engineer, Steam Locomotive Fireman, Through Freight Engineer, Train Engineer, Trainmaster, Transportation Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do locomotive engineers make?
The national median annual wage for locomotive engineers was $81,410 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $60,680 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $109,220. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do locomotive engineers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is locomotive engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of locomotive engineers to change +0.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay locomotive engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($109,220), Massachusetts ($108,790), Mississippi ($96,710). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.