# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/locomotive-engineers
- SOC code: 53-4011.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $81,410 (10th percentile $60,680, 90th percentile $109,220)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.5%
- Openings a year: 2,000
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 42 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 14 |
| Enterprising (E) | 15 |
| Conventional (C) | 61 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 87/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 77/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 77/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Transportation, Public Safety and Security, Mechanical, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, English Language, Law and Government, Physics, Administration and Management

## Also called

Diesel Engineer, Diesel Locomotive Engineer, Engineer, Freight Engineer, Narrow Gauge Engineer, Operator Engineer, Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Pilot Fuel Engineer, Railroad Engineer, Railroad Operating Engineer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ground Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4902) (CIP 4902, 213 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Ground Transportation | $54,938 | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-brake-signal-and-switch-operators-and-locomotive-firers): $68,840 median pay
- [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-conductors-and-yardmasters): $78,000 median pay
- [Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-yard-engineers-dinkey-operators-and-hostlers): $60,600 median pay
- [Subway and Streetcar Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/subway-and-streetcar-operators): $86,380 median pay
- [Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bus-and-truck-mechanics-and-diesel-engine-specialists): $61,770 median pay
- [Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-vehicle-equipment-and-systems-inspectors-except-aviation): $92,100 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.