Rail Transportation Workers

How to become a Locomotive Engineer

Official title: Locomotive Engineers

Also called: Engineer, Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Railroad Engineer, Steam Locomotive Engineer, Steam Locomotive Fireman, Through Freight Engineer, Train Engineer, Trainmaster, Transportation Specialist

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Railroad workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Locomotive Engineer.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $81,410 a year The middle half earn $75,190 to $93,260.
About 27,400 people work in this job now, and about 27,600 are projected by 2035. (+0.5%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Locomotive Engineer?

Railroad workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training.

How much does a Locomotive Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $81,410 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $75,190 to $93,260.

Is a Locomotive Engineer a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 27,400 people now and 27,600 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Locomotive Engineer?

Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Locomotive Engineer.

Will AI change the work of a Locomotive Engineer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.