53 Series · SOC 53-4011
Locomotive Engineers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $81,410
- Median / year
- $109,220
- Top 10% earn
- +0.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 33,470
- US workers
Locomotive Engineers earn a median of $81,410 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $81,410, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $60,680 (10th percentile) to $109,220 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 33,470 US workers. New York pays the most ($109,220), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Locomotive Engineers earn a median of $81,410, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 75% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #8 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.7% by 2033.
- $81,410
- Median annual wage
- Top 25%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #8 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New York at $109,220. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Locomotive Engineers (SOC 53-4011) pays a national median of $81,410 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $60,680 at the 10th percentile to $109,220 at the 90th, with a mean of $85,900 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 33,470 Americans work in this occupation across 35 reporting states and 4 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $109,220, which is +34% above the national figure. The top metro is East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area at $87,510 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$81,410
per year
Median Hourly
$39.14/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$85,900
average
Employment
33,470
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Locomotive Engineers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$81,410 Top 25% higher than 75% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Locomotive Engineers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 53-series occupations with growth data, Locomotive Engineers sits on the slower-growing side at +0.7% growth and $81,410 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.7%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Locomotive Engineers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- ▸ Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- ▸ Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.
- ▸ Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
- ▸ Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- ▸ Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
- ▸ Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- ▸ Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.
- ▸ Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
- ▸ Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$60,680
25th Percentile
$75,190
Median
$81,410
75th Percentile
$93,260
90th Percentile
$109,220
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 35 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $109,220 | +34% above national |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $108,790 | +34% above national |
| 3 | Mississippi | $96,710 | +19% above national |
| 4 | Minnesota | $93,700 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Illinois | $93,320 | +15% above national |
| 6 | Indiana | $92,790 | +14% above national |
| 7 | Florida | $92,310 | +13% above national |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $91,970 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Virginia | $90,780 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Montana | $90,220 | +11% above national |
| 11 | Iowa | $89,970 | +11% above national |
| 12 | Arizona | $89,840 | +10% above national |
| 13 | Colorado | $89,360 | +10% above national |
| 14 | South Carolina | $89,290 | +10% above national |
| 15 | New Mexico | $88,330 | +9% above national |
| 16 | New Jersey | $86,550 | +6% above national |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $84,550 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $82,460 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Tennessee | $81,410 | same as national |
| 20 | Oregon | $79,130 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Texas | $79,000 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Arkansas | $78,930 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Wyoming | $78,910 | 3% below national |
| 24 | Missouri | $78,820 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Kentucky | $77,620 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Alabama | $77,600 | 5% below national |
| 27 | California | $77,070 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Kansas | $75,190 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Washington | $73,750 | 9% below national |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $70,670 | 13% below national |
| 31 | South Dakota | $69,180 | 15% below national |
| 32 | West Virginia | $64,400 | 21% below national |
| 33 | Louisiana | $64,200 | 21% below national |
| 34 | Ohio | $63,280 | 22% below national |
| 35 | North Carolina | $61,190 | 25% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 4 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $87,510 | +7% above national |
| 2 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,340 | 20% below national |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $63,700 | 22% below national |
| 4 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $57,140 | 30% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Locomotive Engineers make? ▼
What state pays Locomotive Engineers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Locomotive Engineers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Locomotive Engineers? ▼
Is Locomotive Engineers a good career? ▼
How does Locomotive Engineers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Locomotive Engineers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Locomotive Engineers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $93,260/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $109,220/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.