Locomotive Engineers Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 33K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$81,410
Median hourly
$39
Average annual
$85,900
Typical range
$60,680–$109,220
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Locomotive Engineers is $81,410 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $39 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations..
Most earn between $60,680 and $109,220 a year. There are roughly 33K people employed as locomotive engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Locomotive Engineers.
- Hourly
- $39.14
- Daily
- $313
- Weekly
- $1,566
- Bi-weekly
- $3,131
- Monthly
- $6,784
- Annual
- $81,410
$81,410 a year is around the 50th percentile for Locomotive Engineerss. The median is $81,410.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$65,340
- 2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$63,700
- 3Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$57,140
Related job titles
Employers advertise Locomotive Engineers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers$68,840
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$78,000
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers$60,600
- Subway and Streetcar Operators$86,380
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770
- Ship Engineers$109,530
- Transportation Inspectors$92,100
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
What a Locomotive Engineers does
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
- 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.
- Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Locomotive Engineers make?
- The median annual wage for Locomotive Engineers is $81,410 ($39 per hour). Pay ranges from about $60,680 at the 10th percentile to $109,220 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Locomotive Engineers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $85,900, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Locomotive Engineerss the most?
- New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $109,220.
- Is Locomotive Engineers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 33K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Locomotive Engineers do?
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.; Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.; Observe tracks to detect obstructions..