Locomotive engineer vs detector car operator

The differences between locomotive engineers and detector car operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a locomotive engineer and a detector car operator. Additionally, a locomotive engineer has an average salary of $55,268, which is higher than the $46,526 average annual salary of a detector car operator.

The top three skills for a locomotive engineer include safety procedures, locomotives and FRA. The most important skills for a detector car operator are law enforcement, patrol, and .

Locomotive engineer vs detector car operator overview

	Locomotive Engineer	Detector Car Operator
Yearly salary	$55,268	$46,526
Hourly rate	$26.57	$22.37
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	1,005	31,614
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

Locomotive engineer vs detector car operator salary

Locomotive engineers and detector car operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Locomotive Engineer	Detector Car Operator
Average salary	$55,268	$46,526
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $76,000	Between $25,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between locomotive engineer and detector car operator education

There are a few differences between a locomotive engineer and a detector car operator in terms of educational background:

	Locomotive Engineer	Detector Car Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Locomotive engineer vs detector car operator demographics

Here are the differences between locomotive engineers' and detector car operators' demographics:

	Locomotive Engineer	Detector Car Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8%	Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.6% Asian, 1.9% White, 74.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between locomotive engineer and detector car operator duties and responsibilities

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.

Detector car operator example responsibilities.

Operate and perform basic maintenance on locomotives.
Report any facts concerning vehicles maintenance, to management.

Locomotive engineer vs detector car operator skills

Common locomotive engineer skills

Safety Procedures, 13%
Locomotives, 13%
FRA, 10%
Rail Cars, 6%
Conductors, 6%
Safety Rules, 5%

Common detector car operator skills

Law Enforcement, 85%
Patrol, 15%

Locomotive Engineer vs. similar jobs

Locomotive Engineer related careers

Locomotive Engineer related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Locomotive Engineer
Locomotive Engineer vs Detector Car Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs