Locomotive Engineer salary in California
Locomotive Engineers in California earn a median of $77,070 a year ($37.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,940 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $81,410. California ranks 27th of 35 states for locomotive engineers pay. There are 0.09 locomotive engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $75,600, close to the median.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,260 | $25.13 |
| 25th percentile | $74,370 | $35.76 |
| Median | $77,070 | $37.06 |
| 75th percentile | $79,940 | $38.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,940 | $38.43 |
| Average (mean) | $75,600 | $36.35 |
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 | $6,422.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,211.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,964.23 |
| Weekly | $1,482.12 |
| Hourly | $37.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Locomotive Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,700 | 40 |
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 California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $69,950 | $33.63 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $58,770 | $28.25 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $60,360 | $29.02 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $67,160 | $32.29 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,600 | $21.92 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in California is $77,070 a year, or $37.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in California?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in California earn at least $79,940 a year. The top 25% earn $79,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,260 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $74,370 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in California?
About 1,570 locomotive engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.