Locomotive Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Locomotive Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $81,410 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 33,470. Wage data is published for 38 locations.
Occupation description
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.
O*NET code
53-4011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$81,410
Hourly median
$39.14
Employment
33,470
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Operations Monitoring | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
- Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
Technology
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
Locomotive Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in TXMedian $79,000 · Employment 3,780
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in ILMedian $93,320 · Employment 2,340
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in CAMedian $77,070 · Employment 1,570
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in NYMedian $109,220 · Employment 1,510
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in PAMedian $82,460 · Employment 1,430
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in WAMedian $73,750 · Employment 1,120
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in MOMedian $78,820 · Employment 1,110
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in INMedian $92,790 · Employment 1,030
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in KSMedian $75,190 · Employment 1,020
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in IAMedian $89,970 · Employment 1,000
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in MNMedian $93,700 · Employment 990
- Locomotive Engineers Salary in NJMedian $86,550 · Employment 830
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.