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Locomotive engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $60,680lowest 10% earn less
- $75,19025th percentile
- $81,410median
- $93,26075th percentile
- $109,220top 10% earn more
Locomotive engineers earned a median of $81,410 a year in May 2025, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Entry needs a high school diploma or equivalent, but growth is projected to be slow[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +0.5%[4]
- Openings per year
- 2,000[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[3]
How much do locomotive engineers make?
The median pay for locomotive engineers was $81,410 a year, or $39.14 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $85,900 a year, or $41.30 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].
Here are the annual percentiles[5]:
| Percentile | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[5] | $60,680 | |
| 25th[5] | $75,190 | |
| Median[1] | $81,410 | |
| 75th[5] | $93,260 | |
| 90th[5] | $109,220 |
A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,680[5][8]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[8]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $29.17 and the 90th was $52.51[9].
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 35 states with published data, New York had the highest median at $109,220, followed by Massachusetts at $108,790 and Mississippi at $96,710[11]. North Carolina was lowest on that list at $61,190[11].
Texas had the most locomotive engineer jobs at 3,780[12]. Illinois followed with 2,340, then California with 1,570, New York with 1,510 and Pennsylvania with 1,430[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington had a median of $65,340 and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands had $57,140[13]. Dallas-Fort Worth had about 250 jobs and Houston about 100[14].
Show median pay in 35 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York[11] | $109,220 | 1,510 |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 | 640 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $93,700 | 990 |
| Illinois | $93,320 | 2,340 |
| Indiana | $92,790 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $92,310 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 | 260 |
| Virginia | $90,780 | 790 |
| Montana | $90,220 | 470 |
| Iowa | $89,970 | 1,000 |
| Arizona | $89,840 | 490 |
| Colorado | $89,360 | 480 |
| South Carolina | $89,290 | 380 |
| New Mexico | $88,330 | 440 |
| New Jersey | $86,550 | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $84,550 | 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,460 | 1,430 |
| Tennessee | $81,410 | 700 |
| Oregon | $79,130 | 580 |
| Texas | $79,000 | 3,780 |
| Arkansas | $78,930 | 620 |
| Wyoming | $78,910 | n/a |
| Missouri | $78,820 | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $77,620 | 540 |
| Alabama | $77,600 | 590 |
| California | $77,070 | 1,570 |
| Kansas | $75,190 | 1,020 |
| Washington | $73,750 | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $70,670 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $69,180 | 150 |
| West Virginia | $64,400 | 340 |
| Louisiana | $64,200 | 700 |
| Ohio | $63,280 | 200 |
| North Carolina | $61,190 | 340 |
How to become a locomotive engineer
The facts describe this path:
- First: have a high school diploma or equivalent. That is the typical entry education, and employers may prefer some postsecondary education[3][15].
- Next: get related work experience. BLS says engineers usually spend several years in conductor or yardmaster jobs first[16]. BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience[3].
- Then: complete on-the-job training. Engineers typically train for 3 or more months, often by riding with an experienced engineer, before running a train alone[17].
- Finally: earn certification from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The railroad that employs the engineer conducts it. It has a written test, a skills test and a supervisor's sign-off that the engineer knows the route[18].
At the end of certification, engineers must pass a vision and hearing test[19]. Engineers who switch to a different route need new certification for it, and all engineers are certified again every few years[20]. Railroad workers must be at least 21, pass a background test and pass random drug and alcohol screenings[21].
The training details come from a BLS profile that covers railroad workers as a wider group, not only locomotive engineers[22]. No fact here gives a total time to qualify or a cost.
What locomotive engineers do
O*NET describes the job as driving electric, diesel-electric, steam or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to move passengers or freight[23]. Typical tasks include:
- Taking start signals from conductors and using throttles and air brakes to run the train[24].
- Watching gauges for speed, battery charge and air pressure[24].
- Reading train orders, signals and railroad rules[24].
- Looking at the track ahead for obstructions[24].
- Talking with conductors and traffic control by radio about stops, delays and other trains[24].
- Checking the locomotive for fuel, sand, water and mechanical problems before and after runs[24].
- Responding to emergencies and breakdowns by following safety procedures[24].
Where they work
Engineers work in climate-controlled cabs that are roomy enough to move around in. They may need to get used to loud noise and frequent vibration while the train moves[25]. Rail transportation employed 85% of railroad workers in 2025[26].
Trains run around the clock every day, so schedules can include nights, weekends and holidays. Most railroad workers are full time, and some put in over 40 hours a week[27]. Federal rules require a minimum amount of rest for train operators[27]. Engineers on long routes can spend long stretches away from home, while passenger trains on short routes tend to give more predictable schedules[28]. Seniority usually decides who gets the most desired shifts, and some engineers are hired as extra-board staff for temporary needs[29].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of locomotive engineers to grow 0.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 27,400 to 27,600 jobs[4]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[30]. These counts include self-employed workers and differ from the OEWS count of about 33,470 wage and salary jobs[31][4].
Still, about 2,000 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[32].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is above the all-occupations median and the entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent[1][2][3]. The route usually runs through other rail jobs, on-the-job training and FRA certification, with recertification later[16][17][18][20]. Schedules can include nights, weekends and time away from home[27][28]. Projected growth is slow, though about 2,000 openings a year are projected[4][6][4][6].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a locomotive engineer make an hour?
- The median was $39.14 an hour and the mean was $41.30 in May 2025[1][7].
- What degree do you need to be a locomotive engineer?
- The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent[3].
- How long does locomotive engineer training take?
- Engineers typically get 3 or more months of on-the-job training[17]. Most spend several years in conductor or yardmaster jobs first[16].
- Is locomotive engineer a growing job?
- Employment is projected to grow 0.5% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 2,000 openings a year[4][30][6].
- What is the highest paying state for locomotive engineers?
- New York had the highest median at $109,220, then Massachusetts at $108,790[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Locomotive Engineers in the US was $81,410 per year and $39.14 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Locomotive Engineers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Locomotive Engineers is projected to grow 0.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 27,400 to 27,600 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Locomotive Engineers: 10th percentile $60,680, 25th percentile $75,190, 75th percentile $93,260, 90th percentile $109,220. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 2,000 openings for Locomotive Engineers 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Locomotive Engineers was $85,900 per year and $41.30 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Locomotive Engineers: 10th percentile $29.17, 25th percentile $36.15, 75th percentile $44.84, 90th percentile $52.51. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- Median annual wage for Locomotive Engineers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Locomotive Engineers jobs: Texas 3,780; Illinois 2,340; California 1,570; New York 1,510; Pennsylvania 1,430. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Locomotive Engineers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $65,340; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $57,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Locomotive Engineers jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 250 (median $65,340); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 100 (median $57,140); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 40 (median $63,700). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Railroad Workers" covers Locomotive Engineers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Locomotive Engineers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Locomotive Engineers. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of railroad workers in 2025: Rail transportation 85%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 33,470 people were employed as Locomotive Engineers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Locomotive Engineers: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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.