How Much Does a Railroad Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$81,410
Railroad engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $81,410 a year, or $39.14 an hour. Half of railroad engineers earn more than $81,410 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $109,220.
Pay percentiles for railroad engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29.17 | $60,680 |
| 25th | $36.15 | $75,190 |
| 50th (median) | $39.14 | $81,410 |
| 75th | $44.84 | $93,260 |
| 90th | $52.51 | $109,220 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Locomotive Engineers (SOC 53-4011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for railroad engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $109,220 | $52.51 | +34% |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 | $52.31 | +34% |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | $46.50 | +19% |
| Minnesota | $93,700 | $45.05 | +15% |
| Illinois | $93,320 | $44.87 | +15% |
| Indiana | $92,790 | $44.61 | +14% |
| Florida | $92,310 | $44.38 | +13% |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 | $44.21 | +13% |
| Virginia | $90,780 | $43.64 | +12% |
| Montana | $90,220 | $43.38 | +11% |
| United States | $81,410 | $39.14 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many railroad engineers are there?
BLS counts about 33,470 railroad engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Locomotive Engineers”. The most jobs are in Texas (3,780), Illinois (2,340) and California (1,570).
The mean (average) annual wage is $85,900, higher than the median of $81,410.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,784
- Biweekly
- $3,131
- Weekly
- $1,566
- Daily (8 hours)
- $313
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do railroad engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for railroad engineers is $39.14. The middle 50% earn between $36.15 and $44.84 an hour.
Which state pays railroad engineers the most?
New York has the highest median wage for railroad engineers at $109,220, +34% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for railroad engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of railroad engineers earn less than $60,680 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.