Locomotive Engineer salary in Iowa
Locomotive Engineers in Iowa earn a median of $89,970 a year ($43.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,710 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $81,410. Iowa ranks 11th of 35 states for locomotive engineers pay. There are 0.64 locomotive engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $86,180, close to the median.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,770 | $35.95 |
| 25th percentile | $74,850 | $35.99 |
| Median | $89,970 | $43.25 |
| 75th percentile | $92,170 | $44.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,710 | $46.02 |
| Average (mean) | $86,180 | $41.43 |
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 | $7,497.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,748.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,460.38 |
| Weekly | $1,730.19 |
| Hourly | $43.25 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $80,910 | $38.90 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,470 | $18.02 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $45,890 | $22.06 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in Iowa is $89,970 a year, or $43.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in Iowa earn at least $95,710 a year. The top 25% earn $92,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,770 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $74,850 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in Iowa?
About 1,000 locomotive engineers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.