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Locomotive electrician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$84,890median pay per year, or $40.81 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $50,750lowest 10% earn less
  2. $63,56025th percentile
  3. $84,890median
  4. $98,85075th percentile
  5. $116,810top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for electrical and electronics installers and repairers of transportation equipment was $84,890 a year[1]. Employment is projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.4%[2]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[6]

How much do locomotive electricians make?

BLS files this work under the official title Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment. Workers in the group report job titles such as Locomotive Electrician and Ship Yard Electrical Person[7].

In May 2025, the median wage was $84,890 a year, or $40.81 an hour[1]. The median is the midpoint, so half the workers made more and half made less. The mean (average) was $83,300 a year, or $40.05 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4], so this group's median was higher.

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $50,750 $24.40
25th[3][9] $63,560 $30.56
Median[1] $84,890 $40.81
75th[3][9] $98,850 $47.53
90th[3][9] $116,810 $56.16

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,750[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 6,940 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published a median wage for 29 states[13]. Washington was listed first at $122,140, followed by Oregon at $104,410 and Nevada at $102,210[13]. Connecticut was listed last at $58,120[13].

California had the most jobs at 1,480[14]. Texas had 580 and New York had 500[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($122,590), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($122,140) and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($98,850)[15]. The metro areas with the most jobs were San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (360), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (330) and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (270)[16].

Show median pay in 29 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$122,140230
Oregon$104,410160
Nevada$102,210120
Kansas$99,42060
Maryland$98,850290
Colorado$96,68070
Montana$96,56050
Illinois$93,300140
Virginia$87,860240
New York$87,360500
Texas$86,520580
California$84,8201,480
Pennsylvania$84,75040
Arizona$84,11050
New Mexico$83,47030
Massachusetts$81,42090
Missouri$81,220170
Minnesota$78,69040
Louisiana$77,27040
Florida$77,110230
Ohio$75,81060
Alabama$75,45050
Iowa$75,130100
Michigan$69,510130
Oklahoma$64,120n/a
Georgia$62,710190
Maine$61,82090
Tennessee$58,250340
Connecticut$58,12060

How to become a locomotive electrician

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of electrical and electronics repair jobs, not only this one[17].

Certifications are not required for the job, but they can show specific knowledge[20].

In an ONET survey of 17 workers, 48% said a post-secondary certificate is required, 28% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 14% said a post-baccalaureate certificate and 10% said an associate's degree[21]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which it calls medium preparation[22].

What locomotive electricians do

O*NET describes the work as installing, adjusting or maintaining mobile electronics equipment on trains, watercraft and other mobile equipment. That includes sound, sonar, security, navigation and surveillance systems[23]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

For the wider group of electrical and electronics repairers, BLS says many work in repair shops or factories. Some work outdoors in all kinds of weather, and travel to job sites may be needed[25]. The work can involve lifting heavy equipment and working in awkward positions, and much of the day is spent walking, standing or kneeling[26]. Some components weigh over 50 pounds[27].

Full time is the usual schedule in the wider group, and some workers may be on call evenings or weekends for emergency repairs[28]. Manufacturing employed 17% of the wider group in 2025[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,600 to 6,900 jobs, a gain of 400[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[30]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS figure of about 6,940 jobs counts wage and salary workers only[12].

BLS expects about 500 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, and new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 5% move to a different occupation[31].

For comparison, O*NET lists related jobs such as Avionics Technicians, with a median of $82,280 and projected growth of 9.4%[32].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay of $84,890 was well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][4]. The typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with on-the-job training after hiring[6]. Projected growth of 5.4% is above the 3.5% for all occupations, though the job count is small[2][30][12]. The work can be physical, with heavy lifting and long periods on your feet[27][26]. Pay differs by place, with state medians ranging from $58,120 to $122,140[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a locomotive electrician make an hour?
The median wage for electrical and electronics installers and repairers of transportation equipment was $40.81 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $40.05[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $24.40 and the 90th was $56.16[9].
What education do you need to be a locomotive electrician?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. In an O*NET survey of 17 workers, 48% said a post-secondary certificate is required[21].
Is this job in demand?
BLS projects 5.4% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][30]. About 500 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for locomotive electricians?
Washington was listed first with a median of $122,140, then Oregon at $104,410 and Nevada at $102,210[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment in the US was $84,890 per year and $40.81 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment is projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,600 to 6,900 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment: 10th percentile $50,750, 25th percentile $63,560, 75th percentile $98,850, 90th percentile $116,810. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 49-2093.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Critical Systems Technician, Electronic Bench Technician, Electronics Mechanic, Locomotive Electrician, Power Technician (Power Tech), Ship Yard Electrical Person. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment was $83,300 per year and $40.05 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment: 10th percentile $24.40, 25th percentile $30.56, 75th percentile $47.53, 90th percentile $56.16. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 6,940 people were employed as Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment jobs: California 1,480; Texas 580; New York 500; Tennessee 340; Nebraska 300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $122,590; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $122,140; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $98,850; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $93,760; Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $87,860; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $81,920; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $80,200; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $77,110. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment jobs: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 360 (median $122,590); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 330 (median $93,760); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 270 (median $98,850); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 220 (median $80,200); Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 190 (median $87,860); Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 140 (median $59,210). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers" covers Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 49-2093.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 48%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 28%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 14%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 49-2093.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of electrical and electronics installers and repairers in 2025: Manufacturing 17%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.