Locomotive Engineer salary in New Mexico
Locomotive Engineers in New Mexico earn a median of $88,330 a year ($42.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,880 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $81,410. New Mexico ranks 15th of 35 states for locomotive engineers pay. There are 0.51 locomotive engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $86,590, close to the median.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,960 | $40.36 |
| 25th percentile | $83,960 | $40.36 |
| Median | $88,330 | $42.47 |
| 75th percentile | $91,610 | $44.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,880 | $44.66 |
| Average (mean) | $86,590 | $41.63 |
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 | $7,360.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,680.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,397.31 |
| Weekly | $1,698.65 |
| Hourly | $42.47 |
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 New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,830 | $17.22 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,360 | $20.37 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $55,790 | $26.82 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,970 | $16.81 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $47,660 | $22.92 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $78,010 | $37.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in New Mexico
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 New Mexico?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in New Mexico is $88,330 a year, or $42.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in New Mexico earn at least $92,880 a year. The top 25% earn $91,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,960 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $83,960 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in New Mexico?
About 440 locomotive engineers are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.