Transportation & Logistics
Locomotive Engineers
Also called: Engineer, Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Railroad Engineer, Steam Locomotive Engineer
US median pay
$81,410
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.5%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
2,000
27,400 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
- Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
- Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.
- Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control4.2/5
- Operations Monitoring4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.8/5
Knowledge
- Transportation4.0/5
- Public Safety and Security3.5/5
- Mechanical3.3/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.9/5
- Education and Training2.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.