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Locomotive Engineers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $81,410 Median per year · $39.14/hr Most earn $60,680–$109,220

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
  • Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
  • Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
  • Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
  • Drive diesel-electric rail-detector cars to transport rail-flaw-detecting machines over tracks.
  • Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Rail transportation93.9%
  • Support activities for rail transportation2.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

Locomotive engineer is usually an entry-level job. Many people start with only a high school diploma and get hired and trained by a railroad, with up to about a month of prior work experience typically expected.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish school with solid math, science, and reading skills, since you will read rulebooks, timetables, and train orders on the job.

  2. Railroad company training program

    About 1 month or more of training

    Railroads usually hire new workers and train them on safety rules, signals, air brakes, and operating procedures before they can run a train on their own.

  3. Locomotive Engineer

    Entry point after training; skills and seniority build over time

    Once trained and qualified on the routes and equipment, you run freight or passenger trains and follow railroad rules and signals for every trip.

Where it can lead

  1. Road Foreman of Engines

    Several years as a locomotive engineer of experience first

    You would supervise and evaluate other engineers, check that crews follow safety and operating rules, and help with training, which usually requires strong rule knowledge and a clean safety record.

  2. Trainmaster

    Several years in train operations or supervision of experience first

    You would oversee train crews and daily train movements across a territory, planning and solving problems for the railroad, which usually takes years of operating experience and management training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsAlgebra, geometry, and physics help you understand speed, distance, weight, and braking, which are part of running a train.
  • Join a related clubRobotics, model railroad, or engineering clubs build the habit of following procedures and checklists.
  • Get a starter jobPart-time work that requires being on time and following safety rules, such as a grocery or warehouse job, shows employers you are dependable.
  • Learn basic safety and first aidA community first aid or CPR class is useful for any job where safety comes first.
  • Visit a rail yard or museumAsk a local railroad or railway museum about tours or youth events to see how crews work.

In college

  • Take math, physics, or engineering coursesThese classes build the thinking skills needed to understand train systems, brakes, and schedules.
  • Work a campus or part-time job with safety rulesJobs that require following procedures and showing up on time prepare you for railroad rules and shift work.
  • Apply for a summer job or internship with a railroad or transit agencyAny hands-on rail experience, even in a non-engineer role, helps you learn the industry and make contacts.
  • Get a first aid or CPR certificationMany railroad employers value safety certifications, and it's a low-cost way to show you take safety seriously.
  • Join a student transportation or engineering clubGroups like these teach teamwork and communication, which matter when working as part of a train crew.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school counselor or a local railroad about entry-level openings, such as yard or conductor trainee jobs, which often lead to engineer training.
  • Build a clean record: punctuality, reliability, and following safety rules matter a lot in railroad hiring and advancement.
  • Be ready for shift work, time away from home, and a physical job; many railroads require medical and vision screening and a drug test.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Ground Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $48,327 a year · typical debt $6,365

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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