Locomotive Engineers
SOC 53-4011 · 2024-2034
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.
How the U.S. Department of Labor describes this work. Published in English only.
Shrinking -6.3%
California projects this job will shrink over the next ten years. Fewer openings may mean a harder search.
The job this trains for
- Typical pay in California
- $78,757per year
- Projected openings
- 1,130
- Projected change
- -6.3%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Skills this work uses most
O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupation database, rates how important each of these is to this work, and they are listed in that order, most important first. The ratings themselves are not shown, because the data carries the number without the scale it was measured on. The names are as published, in English.
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Pay by region
| Region | Typical pay in California | Projected openings |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland-Fremont-Berkeley MD (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) | $74,493 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) | $63,384 | 410 |
| Modesto MSA (Stanislaus County) | Not reported | 20 |
Similar work
O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupation database, names these as occupations involving work similar to this one — its own reading of the job, not a grouping by code. They keep O*NET's order, and only those California publishes a projection for are shown.
| The job this trains for | Typical pay in California | Projected openings | Projected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $60,056 | 1,200 | 0% |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $71,481 | 1,120 | -6.7% |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $76,041 | 20,390 | +5.1% |
| Transportation Inspectors | $84,817 | 2,030 | +5% |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $89,521 | 33,360 | +7% |