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Locomotive electrician vs locomotive engineer

The differences between locomotive electricians and locomotive engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a locomotive electrician, becoming a locomotive engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a locomotive electrician has an average salary of $58,675, which is higher than the $55,268 average annual salary of a locomotive engineer.

The top three skills for a locomotive electrician include locomotives, FRA and transformers. The most important skills for a locomotive engineer are safety procedures, locomotives, and FRA.

Locomotive electrician vs locomotive engineer overview

Locomotive ElectricianLocomotive Engineer
Yearly salary$58,675$55,268
Hourly rate$28.21$26.57
Growth rate7%4%
Number of jobs14,5251,005
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age4247
Years of experience122

Locomotive electrician vs locomotive engineer salary

Locomotive electricians and locomotive engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Locomotive ElectricianLocomotive Engineer
Average salary$58,675$55,268
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $80,000Between $39,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between locomotive electrician and locomotive engineer education

There are a few differences between a locomotive electrician and a locomotive engineer in terms of educational background:

Locomotive ElectricianLocomotive Engineer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyBusiness
Most common college--

Locomotive electrician vs locomotive engineer demographics

Here are the differences between locomotive electricians' and locomotive engineers' demographics:

Locomotive ElectricianLocomotive Engineer
Average age4247
Gender ratioMale, 97.9% Female, 2.1%Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 2.3% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 1.9% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage3%12%

Differences between locomotive electrician and locomotive engineer duties and responsibilities

Locomotive electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Repair event recorders, video recorders, air compressors, turbo and fuel pumps and temperature switches.
  • Replace relay panels with PLC's.
  • Perform maintenance and installation on crossing gates, signals and switches.
  • Perform periodic electrical inspection, maintenance, servicing and testing of locomotives in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and company policy.
  • Maintain and repair solenoids and regulators on co-generation systems.

Locomotive engineer example responsibilities.

  • Receive verbal directions via radio or hand signals from conductors and brakemen and subsequently follow directions accordingly.
  • Marshal 90-car coal trains for transfer to CSX.
  • Qualify on GCOR and CSX signal and operating rules.
  • Evaluate train make-up to properly handle placement of HAZMAT materials.
  • Master all rules, signals, equipment, and physical characteristics including those of Conrail and Amtrak.
  • Couple and uncouple rail cars by operating controls such as throttles, airbrakes, switches, gates, and wheel chocks.
  • Show more

Locomotive electrician vs locomotive engineer skills

Common locomotive electrician skills
  • Locomotives, 15%
  • FRA, 13%
  • Transformers, 8%
  • Switches, 7%
  • Switchboards, 6%
  • Computer Monitors, 6%
Common locomotive engineer skills
  • Safety Procedures, 13%
  • Locomotives, 13%
  • FRA, 10%
  • Rail Cars, 6%
  • Conductors, 6%
  • Safety Rules, 5%

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