Locomotive Engineer salary in Alabama
Locomotive Engineers in Alabama earn a median of $77,600 a year ($37.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,380 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $81,410. Alabama ranks 26th of 35 states for locomotive engineers pay. There are 0.28 locomotive engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,290, close to the median.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 25th percentile | $56,580 | $27.20 |
| Median | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| 75th percentile | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,380 | $42.01 |
| Average (mean) | $70,290 | $33.79 |
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 | $6,466.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,233.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,984.62 |
| Weekly | $1,492.31 |
| Hourly | $37.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for locomotive engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $109,220 |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 |
| Minnesota | $93,700 |
| Illinois | $93,320 |
| Indiana | $92,790 |
| Florida | $92,310 |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 |
| Virginia | $90,780 |
| Montana | $90,220 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $56,050 | $26.95 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,290 | $16.48 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $52,120 | $25.06 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $17,630 | $8.48 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $31,770 | $15.28 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,360 | $14.11 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $38,810 | $18.66 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
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 Alabama?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in Alabama is $77,600 a year, or $37.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in Alabama?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in Alabama earn at least $87,380 a year. The top 25% earn $78,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,290 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $56,580 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in Alabama?
About 590 locomotive engineers are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.