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Locomotive Engineers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-4011.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$81,411

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+6.1%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

70.2% of the workforce

Employment
39.53K jobs

Growing to 41.93K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What locomotive engineers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the 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.
  • Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
  • Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
  • 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.
  • Check to ensure that documentation, such as procedure manuals or logbooks, are in the driver's cab and available for staff use.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$60,674
25th percentile
$75,192
50th percentile
$81,411
75th percentile
$93,267
90th percentile
$109,221

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $81,411 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+6.1%faster than average
202539,526 jobs
2035 projected41,930 jobs

2,404 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
70.2%
Certificate
23.2%
Some college
6.6%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Locomotive Engineering
  • Network Switches
  • Lifting Ability
  • Loading And Unloading
  • Brakes
  • Locomotive
  • Train Operation
  • Locomotive Inspection
  • Air Brakes
  • Pre-Trip And Post-Trip Vehicle Inspections
  • Rail Operations
  • Vehicle Coupling And Uncoupling
  • Occupational Safety And Health
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Good Driving Record
  • Safety Standards
  • Brake (Sheet Metal Bending)
  • General Mathematics
  • Oil and Gas
  • Heavy Equipment

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations 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.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Locomotive Engineers93 postings
  2. 02Van Drivers47 postings
  3. 03Locomotive Engineers/Conductors33 postings
  4. 04Regional Owner-Operator CDL-A Truck Drivers11 postings
  5. 05Driver Trainers10 postings
  6. 06Rail Operators8 postings
  7. 07CDL-A Truck Drivers4 postings
  8. 08Dedicated Truck Drivers3 postings
  9. 09Lowboy Drivers3 postings
  10. 10Doubles Drivers2 postings
  11. 11Lead Trainers2 postings
  12. 12Local Drivers2 postings
  13. 13Social Work Trainees2 postings
  14. 14Amusements Managers1 postings
  15. 15Customer Experience Experts1 postings
  16. 16Drivers/Laborers1 postings
  17. 17Dump Truck Operators1 postings
  18. 18Eligibility Managers1 postings
  19. 19Explorers1 postings
  20. 20Express Technicians1 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Jaguar Transport12 postings
  2. 02American Rail Services7 postings
  3. 03T.K.M.S6 postings
  4. 04Alstom5 postings
  5. 05Aurizon5 postings
  6. 06Cedar Point5 postings
  7. 07Genesee & Wyoming5 postings
  8. 08Dykema Excavators4 postings
  9. 09Gfl Environmental4 postings
  10. 10Norfolk Southern4 postings
  11. 11Savage Services4 postings
  12. 12Windy Acres Farm4 postings
  13. 13Brightline Trains3 postings
  14. 14Carload Express3 postings
  15. 15Dani's Transport3 postings
  16. 16Freeport-McMoRan3 postings
  17. 17Metra3 postings
  18. 18Robbin Harsh Excavating3 postings
  19. 19Savage3 postings
  20. 20Savage Companies3 postings

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