Locomotive Engineer salary in Kentucky
Locomotive Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $77,620 a year ($37.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,080 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $81,410. Kentucky ranks 25th of 35 states for locomotive engineers pay. There are 0.27 locomotive engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $83,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| 25th percentile | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Median | $77,620 | $37.32 |
| 75th percentile | $96,810 | $46.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,080 | $47.16 |
| Average (mean) | $83,310 | $40.06 |
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 | $6,468.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,234.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,985.38 |
| Weekly | $1,492.69 |
| Hourly | $37.32 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $56,410 | $27.12 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $52,380 | $25.18 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $350,950 | — |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in Kentucky is $77,620 a year, or $37.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in Kentucky earn at least $98,080 a year. The top 25% earn $96,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,820 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $77,590 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in Kentucky?
About 540 locomotive engineers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.