Locomotive Engineers Salary
The median locomotive engineers salary in the United States is $81,410 per year ($39.14/hour). Salaries range from $60,680 at the entry level to $109,220+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 33,470 locomotive engineers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.7% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$81,410
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.14
per hour
Employment
33,470
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$60,680
25th percentile
$75,190
Median
$81,410
75th percentile
$93,260
90th percentile
$109,220
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+0.7%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,200
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Locomotive Engineers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$61K$109K■ No data
Top Paying States
New York
$109K
+34%
Massachusetts
$109K
+34%
Mississippi
$97K
+19%
Minnesota
$94K
+15%
Illinois
$93K
+15%
Indiana
$93K
+14%
Florida
$92K
+13%
Oklahoma
$92K
+13%
Virginia
$91K
+12%
Montana
$90K
+11%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $109,220 | +34.2% |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 | +33.6% |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | +18.8% |
| Minnesota | $93,700 | +15.1% |
| Illinois | $93,320 | +14.6% |
| Indiana | $92,790 | +14.0% |
| Florida | $92,310 | +13.4% |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 | +13.0% |
| Virginia | $90,780 | +11.5% |
| Montana | $90,220 | +10.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 35
Locomotive Engineers Salary by Metro Area
Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,340 | -19.7% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,700 | -21.8% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $57,140 | -29.8% |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A locomotive engineers earning $81,410/year would need 732 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 786 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how locomotive engineers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Locomotive Engineers salary trend (2011–2024) →