Locomotive Engineer salary in the U.S.
Locomotive Engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $81,410 a year ($39.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,220 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $85,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,680 | $29.17 |
| 25th percentile | $75,190 | $36.15 |
| Median | $81,410 | $39.14 |
| 75th percentile | $93,260 | $44.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,220 | $52.51 |
| Average (mean) | $85,900 | $41.30 |
Half of locomotive engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,784.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,392.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,131.15 |
| Weekly | $1,565.58 |
| Hourly | $39.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Locomotive Engineer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $109,220 | 1,510 |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 | 640 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $93,700 | 990 |
| Illinois | $93,320 | 2,340 |
| Indiana | $92,790 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $92,310 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 | 260 |
| Virginia | $90,780 | 790 |
| Montana | $90,220 | 470 |
| Iowa | $89,970 | 1,000 |
| Arizona | $89,840 | 490 |
| Colorado | $89,360 | 480 |
| South Carolina | $89,290 | 380 |
| New Mexico | $88,330 | 440 |
| New Jersey | $86,550 | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $84,550 | 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,460 | 1,430 |
| Tennessee | $81,410 | 700 |
| Oregon | $79,130 | 580 |
| Texas | $79,000 | 3,780 |
| Arkansas | $78,930 | 620 |
| Wyoming | $78,910 | n/a |
| Missouri | $78,820 | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $77,620 | 540 |
| Alabama | $77,600 | 590 |
| California | $77,070 | 1,570 |
| Kansas | $75,190 | 1,020 |
| Washington | $73,750 | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $70,670 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $69,180 | 150 |
| West Virginia | $64,400 | 340 |
| Louisiana | $64,200 | 700 |
| Ohio | $63,280 | 200 |
| North Carolina | $61,190 | 340 |
Best-paying metro areas for locomotive engineers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,340 | 250 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,700 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $57,140 | 100 |
Metro areas with the most locomotive engineers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 250 | $65,340 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 100 | $57,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 40 | $63,700 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $68,840 | $33.10 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $60,600 | $29.14 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $56,360 | $27.10 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-4011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a locomotive engineer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in the U.S. is $81,410 a year, or $39.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in the U.S. earn at least $109,220 a year. The top 25% earn $93,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,680 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $75,190 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in the U.S.?
About 33,470 locomotive engineers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.