Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
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.
Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
Top skills:Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Locomotive Engineer pay by experience level
Entry level$63,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$78,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$84,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$96,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$113,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,200
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Locomotive Engineer salary by industry
Rail Transportation
31,840 workers
$90,000
Rail Transportation
31,840 workers
$90,000
Support Activities for Transportation
640 workers
$62,500
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
610 workers
$63,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
570 workers
$78,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
500 workers
$79,500
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
80 workers
$57,500
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land
80 workers
$57,500
Primary Metal Manufacturing
60 workers
$62,500
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing
60 workers
$62,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Locomotive Engineer pays 29% above the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
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