Locomotive Engineers · North Carolina

Locomotive Engineers Salary in North Carolina

Locomotive Engineers in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $61,190 —24.8% below the national median of $81,410. That ranks NC #35 of 35 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$61,190
Median hourly
$29.42
Entry level (P10)
$59,580
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$70,240
90th percentile
Employment
340
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-24.8%
U.S. $81,410

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$59,580
$61,160
$61,190
$61,190
$59,580$61,190$70,240
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $61,190.

Employment is only 0.32× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for locomotive engineers

All 35 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New York$109,220$52.511,5100.72
2Massachusetts$108,790$52.316400.82
3Mississippi$96,710$46.503001.19
4Minnesota$93,700$45.059901.56
5Illinois$93,320$44.872,3401.79
6Indiana$92,790$44.611,0301.49
7Florida$92,310$44.383500.16
8Oklahoma$91,970$44.212600.72
9Virginia$90,780$43.647900.89
10Montana$90,220$43.384704.31

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do locomotive engineers make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for locomotive engineers in North Carolina is $61,190, or $29.42 per hour. That is 24.8% below the national median of $81,410.

What is the entry-level locomotive engineers salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $59,580 per year ($28.64/hour). The 25th percentile is $61,160.

How many people work as locomotive engineers in North Carolina?

About 340 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for locomotive engineers?

North Carolina ranks #35 of 35 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.32x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays locomotive engineers the most?

New York has the highest median wage at $109,220 per year, followed by Massachusetts ($108,790) and Mississippi ($96,710).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes