Locomotive Engineers
Locomotive Engineers (SOC 53-4011) earn a median $81,410 a year ($39.14 an hour) in the United States, with 33,470 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What locomotive engineers do
Locomotive engineers run trains between stations, hauling freight or carrying passengers, and they also assemble or disassemble trains in rail yards. They operate electric, diesel-electric, steam, and gas turbine-electric locomotives using throttles, air brakes, and other controls, and they work with a conductor who is in charge of the train's cars and crew. The engineer interprets train orders and the railroad rules that govern the operation of locomotives. During the run the engineer watches signals along the track and in the cab, calls them out to the conductor to confirm their meaning, and keeps an eye on gauges for speed, battery charge, and air pressure in the brake lines. Radio contact with conductors and a traffic control center covers stops, delays, and oncoming trains. The engineer also looks ahead for obstructions on the track. The engineer also checks that brake examination tests are carried out. The SOC excludes the professional engineering occupations, which are unrelated despite the shared word.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Diesel Engine Operator, Diesel Engineer, Diesel Locomotive Engineer, Engine Pilot, Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $29.17 | $36.15 | $39.14 | $44.84 | $52.51 | $41.30 | 33,470 |
| Annual | $60,680 | $75,190 | $81,410 | $93,260 | $109,220 | $85,900 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where locomotive engineers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.38 | $45.00 | $52.51 | $53.02 | $53.02 | $47.46 | 1,510 | 0.16 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $61,110 | $93,590 | $109,220 | $110,280 | $110,280 | $98,720 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $40.55 | $52.31 | $52.31 | $57.22 | $81.06 | $56.89 | 640 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $84,340 | $108,790 | $108,790 | $119,030 | $168,600 | $118,340 | ||||
| Mississippi | Hourly | $28.74 | $29.15 | $46.50 | $83.86 | $101.65 | $60.57 | 300 | 0.26 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $59,790 | $60,640 | $96,710 | $174,440 | $211,440 | $125,980 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $38.36 | $41.16 | $45.05 | $45.11 | $45.11 | $42.66 | 990 | 0.34 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $79,780 | $85,620 | $93,700 | $93,830 | $93,830 | $88,730 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $36.63 | $40.61 | $44.87 | $46.77 | $73.28 | $49.27 | 2,340 | 0.38 | 1.79 |
| Annual | $76,190 | $84,470 | $93,320 | $97,280 | $152,420 | $102,480 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $28.22 | $31.42 | $37.98 | $38.13 | $38.13 | $35.35 | 3,780 | 0.27 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $58,700 | $65,340 | $79,000 | $79,310 | $79,310 | $73,530 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $36.63 | $40.61 | $44.87 | $46.77 | $73.28 | $49.27 | 2,340 | 0.38 | 1.79 |
| Annual | $76,190 | $84,470 | $93,320 | $97,280 | $152,420 | $102,480 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $25.13 | $35.76 | $37.06 | $38.43 | $38.43 | $36.35 | 1,570 | 0.09 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $52,260 | $74,370 | $77,070 | $79,940 | $79,940 | $75,600 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.38 | $45.00 | $52.51 | $53.02 | $53.02 | $47.46 | 1,510 | 0.16 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $61,110 | $93,590 | $109,220 | $110,280 | $110,280 | $98,720 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $28.97 | $39.15 | $39.64 | $39.69 | $48.49 | $38.31 | 1,430 | 0.24 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $60,250 | $81,440 | $82,460 | $82,550 | $100,870 | $79,680 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $25.19 | $25.19 | $31.42 | $31.42 | $31.42 | $29.61 | 250 | 0.06 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $52,390 | $52,390 | $65,340 | $65,340 | $65,340 | $61,580 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $24.43 | $24.43 | $30.63 | $75.41 | $75.42 | $47.24 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Annual | $50,820 | $50,820 | $63,700 | $156,850 | $156,870 | $98,260 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $23.08 | $24.10 | $27.47 | $28.01 | $35.08 | $27.62 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $48,000 | $50,130 | $57,140 | $58,260 | $72,960 | $57,440 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $25.19 | $25.19 | $31.42 | $31.42 | $31.42 | $29.61 | 250 | 0.06 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $52,390 | $52,390 | $65,340 | $65,340 | $65,340 | $61,580 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $23.08 | $24.10 | $27.47 | $28.01 | $35.08 | $27.62 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $48,000 | $50,130 | $57,140 | $58,260 | $72,960 | $57,440 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $24.43 | $24.43 | $30.63 | $75.41 | $75.42 | $47.24 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Annual | $50,820 | $50,820 | $63,700 | $156,850 | $156,870 | $98,260 | ||||
Top industries employing locomotive engineers
Rail Transportation employ 95.1% of locomotive engineers nationally (31,840 jobs) at a median $81,900 a year ($39.37 an hour), followed by Support Activities for Rail Transportation (1.8%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (1.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation NAICS 482100 | 31,840 | 95.1% | $81,900 | $39.37 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation NAICS 488200 | 610 | 1.8% | $55,640 | $26.75 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 500 | 1.5% | $82,490 | $39.66 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land NAICS 487100 | 80 | 0.2% | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing NAICS 331100 | 60 | 0.2% | $57,730 | $27.75 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (33,470). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $79,740 for locomotive engineers in May 2021 and $81,410 in May 2025, with employment of 38,980 and 33,470.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $79,740 | $38.34 | 38,980 |
| May 2022 | $74,570 | $35.85 | 36,440 |
| May 2023 | $74,770 | $35.95 | 32,390 |
| May 2024 | $77,400 | $37.21 | 31,990 |
| May 2025 | $81,410 | $39.14 | 33,470 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
36 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $52.51 | $109,220 | $61,110 | $110,280 | 1,510 | 0.16 | 0.72 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $52.31 | $108,790 | $84,340 | $168,600 | 640 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| 3 | Mississippi profile | $46.50 | $96,710 | $59,790 | $211,440 | 300 | 0.26 | 1.19 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $45.05 | $93,700 | $79,780 | $93,830 | 990 | 0.34 | 1.56 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $44.87 | $93,320 | $76,190 | $152,420 | 2,340 | 0.38 | 1.79 |
| 6 | Indiana profile | $44.61 | $92,790 | $62,830 | $129,020 | 1,030 | 0.32 | 1.49 |
| 7 | Florida profile | $44.38 | $92,310 | $80,070 | $94,560 | 350 | 0.04 | 0.16 |
| 8 | Oklahoma profile | $44.21 | $91,970 | $60,640 | $127,380 | 260 | 0.15 | 0.72 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $43.64 | $90,780 | $62,490 | $90,940 | 790 | 0.19 | 0.89 |
| 10 | Montana profile | $43.38 | $90,220 | $80,460 | $126,950 | 470 | 0.93 | 4.31 |
| 11 | Iowa profile | $43.25 | $89,970 | $74,770 | $95,710 | 1,000 | 0.64 | 2.98 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $43.19 | $89,840 | $81,810 | $93,260 | 490 | 0.15 | 0.70 |
| 13 | Colorado profile | $42.96 | $89,360 | $57,730 | $125,830 | 480 | 0.17 | 0.77 |
| 14 | South Carolina profile | $42.93 | $89,290 | $58,350 | $89,290 | 380 | 0.17 | 0.77 |
| 15 | New Mexico profile | $42.47 | $88,330 | $83,960 | $92,880 | 440 | 0.51 | 2.36 |
| 16 | New Jersey profile | $41.61 | $86,550 | $85,930 | $107,060 | 830 | 0.19 | 0.90 |
| 17 | Wisconsin profile | $40.65 | $84,550 | $61,780 | $84,600 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $39.64 | $82,460 | $60,250 | $100,870 | 1,430 | 0.24 | 1.10 |
| 19 | Tennessee profile | $39.14 | $81,410 | $66,060 | $91,490 | 700 | 0.22 | 1.00 |
| 20 | Oregon profile | $38.05 | $79,130 | $67,440 | $83,630 | 580 | 0.30 | 1.37 |
| 21 | Texas profile | $37.98 | $79,000 | $58,700 | $79,310 | 3,780 | 0.27 | 1.25 |
| 22 | Arkansas profile | $37.95 | $78,930 | $65,050 | $78,930 | 620 | 0.47 | 2.19 |
| 23 | Wyoming profile | $37.94 | $78,910 | $63,440 | $105,080 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Missouri profile | $37.90 | $78,820 | $78,750 | $79,040 | 1,110 | 0.38 | 1.76 |
| 25 | Kentucky profile | $37.32 | $77,620 | $61,820 | $98,080 | 540 | 0.27 | 1.25 |
| 26 | Alabama profile | $37.31 | $77,600 | $39,290 | $87,380 | 590 | 0.28 | 1.30 |
| 27 | California profile | $37.06 | $77,070 | $52,260 | $79,940 | 1,570 | 0.09 | 0.40 |
| 28 | Kansas profile | $36.15 | $75,190 | $60,660 | $78,300 | 1,020 | 0.71 | 3.31 |
| 29 | Washington profile | $35.46 | $73,750 | $59,610 | $91,140 | 1,120 | 0.32 | 1.47 |
| 30 | New Hampshire profile | $33.98 | $70,670 | $49,430 | $77,110 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.23 |
| 31 | South Dakota profile | $33.26 | $69,180 | $62,730 | $81,640 | 150 | 0.34 | 1.57 |
| 32 | West Virginia profile | $30.96 | $64,400 | $62,880 | $90,080 | 340 | 0.48 | 2.23 |
| 33 | Louisiana profile | $30.87 | $64,200 | $47,180 | $73,630 | 700 | 0.36 | 1.69 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $30.42 | $63,280 | $63,110 | $77,130 | 200 | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $29.42 | $61,190 | $59,580 | $70,240 | 340 | 0.07 | 0.32 |
| – | Delaware profile | * | * | * | * | 290 | 0.59 | 2.73 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (53-4010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-4011 Locomotive Engineers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-4011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-4011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.