Locomotive Engineers: Job 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.
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What Do Locomotive Engineers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of locomotive engineers include:
- 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.
What Locomotive Engineers Need to Know
Top locomotive engineers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Locomotive Engineers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Diesel Engine Operator
- Diesel Engineer
- Diesel Locomotive Engineer
- Engine Pilot
- Engineer
- Engineman
- Freight Engineer
- Fuel Pilot Engineer
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 89,503 locomotive engineers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -3.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Locomotive Engineers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $61,391 |
| Hourly median | $29.51 |
| 10th percentile | $39,804 |
| 25th percentile | $50,598 |
| 75th percentile | $72,184 |
| 90th percentile | $82,977 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $107,290 |
| Massachusetts | $104,950 |
| Connecticut | $103,010 |
| Iowa | $87,550 |
| Oklahoma | $86,520 |
| Nebraska | $84,870 |
| New Jersey | $84,230 |
| Illinois | $83,690 |
| Delaware | $82,920 |
| Wisconsin | $82,190 |
| Florida | $82,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,210 |
| Arizona | $81,170 |
| Montana | $81,160 |
| Colorado | $79,960 |
| Utah | $79,800 |
| Kentucky | $79,690 |
| Minnesota | $79,370 |
| Oregon | $77,210 |
| Texas | $77,080 |
| Arkansas | $77,010 |
| Wyoming | $76,990 |
| Missouri | $76,910 |
| Kansas | $76,680 |
| Tennessee | $76,290 |
| Georgia | $75,680 |
| California | $74,710 |
| Alabama | $73,780 |
| Washington | $73,410 |
| West Virginia | $72,660 |
| South Dakota | $67,950 |
| New Hampshire | $65,370 |
| North Carolina | $64,110 |
| Indiana | $63,160 |
| Ohio | $62,130 |
| Virginia | $61,350 |
Where Locomotive Engineers Earn the Most
Pay for locomotive engineers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $101,609 | 3.4% | 0.79 |
| Middle Atlantic | $92,408 | 11.3% | 1.13 |
| Plains States | $81,407 | 18.2% | 3.06 |
| Rocky Mountains | $80,585 | 6.6% | 5.39 |
| Southwest | $78,063 | 17.6% | 1.31 |
| Great Lakes | $77,446 | 13.3% | 1.40 |
| Far Western US | $72,863 | 11.4% | 0.79 |
| Southeast | $70,934 | 18.3% | 1.04 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Locomotive Engineers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $80,490 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $72,730 | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $64,170 | 240 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $63,750 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Locomotive Engineers
The largest employers of locomotive engineers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 31,320 | $77,400 |
| Manufacturing | 70 | $45,140 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 50 | $52,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 30 | $33,600 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for locomotive engineers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Most locomotive engineers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers (Supplemental)
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (Supplemental)
- Air Traffic Controllers (Supplemental)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future locomotive engineers often complete programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-4011.00 (Locomotive Engineers).
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