Locomotive Engineers
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.
Also called: Locomotive Engineer · Passenger Locomotive Engineer · Railroad Engineer · Through Freight Engineer · Train Engineer · Trainmaster
Median pay (national)
$77,400
$60,980–$100,690 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
31,990
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+0.7%
~2,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for locomotive engineers shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $100,690 versus $60,980 at the bottom 10% — 1.7x. The median of $77,400 leaves roughly 30% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +0.7% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 36 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $107,290, +39% vs the national median), while Virginia sits lowest at $61,350 — a 75% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
- 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.
- Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
- Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.
- Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays.
Tools & technology
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government