What is a Locomotive Engineer?
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.
A Day in the Life of a Locomotive Engineer
- Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays.
- Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
- Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
- Drive diesel-electric rail-detector cars to transport rail-flaw-detecting machines over tracks.
- 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.
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Locomotive Engineer Needed Skills
When polled, Locomotive Engineers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Locomotive Engineer Supervisor
- Engineman
- Pilot Fuel Engineer
- Trainman
- Passenger Locomotive Engineer
Job Opportunities for Locomotive Engineers
In the United States, there were 38,800 jobs for Locomotive Engineer in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Locomotive Engineer. There will be an estimated 3,000 positions for Locomotive Engineer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Locomotive Engineer are South Carolina, Arizona, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Louisiana, Oregon, or Minnesota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Locomotive Engineer Salary
Locomotive Engineers make between $46,200 and $97,890 a year.
Locomotive Engineers who work in Washington, Delaware, or New York, make the highest salaries.
How much do Locomotive Engineers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $64,670 |
| Arizona | $66,350 |
| Arkansas | $66,410 |
| California | $80,330 |
| Delaware | $75,030 |
| Florida | $62,520 |
| Georgia | $56,090 |
| Idaho | $60,160 |
| Illinois | $71,000 |
| Indiana | $59,180 |
| Iowa | $68,110 |
| Kansas | $69,420 |
| Kentucky | $58,160 |
| Maryland | $75,270 |
| Massachusetts | $74,190 |
| Michigan | $65,030 |
| Minnesota | $66,340 |
| Missouri | $71,260 |
| Montana | $64,700 |
| Nebraska | $66,760 |
| New Hampshire | $45,100 |
| New Jersey | $61,310 |
| New Mexico | $75,490 |
| New York | $77,150 |
| North Carolina | $58,670 |
| Ohio | $65,400 |
| Oklahoma | $51,650 |
| Oregon | $58,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,890 |
| South Carolina | $60,420 |
| South Dakota | $77,640 |
| Tennessee | $70,970 |
| Texas | $65,660 |
| Utah | $57,290 |
| Virginia | $69,990 |
| Washington | $85,160 |
| West Virginia | $60,730 |
| Wisconsin | $63,520 |
| Wyoming | $80,610 |
What Tools do Locomotive Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Locomotive Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
How to Become a Locomotive Engineer
What kind of Locomotive Engineer requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Locomotive Engineers Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Locomotive Engineers employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Locomotive Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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