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Locomotive engineer vs freight engineer

The differences between locomotive engineers and freight engineers 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 freight engineer. Additionally, a freight engineer has an average salary of $55,585, which is higher than the $55,268 average annual salary of a locomotive engineer.

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

Locomotive engineer vs freight engineer overview

Locomotive EngineerFreight Engineer
Yearly salary$55,268$55,585
Hourly rate$26.57$26.72
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs1,0058,889
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

Locomotive engineer vs freight engineer salary

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

Locomotive EngineerFreight Engineer
Average salary$55,268$55,585
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $76,000Between $40,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between locomotive engineer and freight engineer education

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

Locomotive EngineerFreight Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Locomotive engineer vs freight engineer demographics

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

Locomotive EngineerFreight Engineer
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 95.2% Female, 4.8%Male, 88.0% Female, 12.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 1.9% White, 70.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between locomotive engineer and freight engineer 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.
  • Show more

Freight engineer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage technical procedures for quality control to comply with ISO laboratory accreditation.
  • Pull and push track switches to reroute cars.
  • Perform duties to get freight and locomotives to final destination safely and on time.
  • Interpret train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
  • Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
  • Design electrical layouts in commercial & residential buildings using AutoCAD.

Locomotive engineer vs freight engineer skills

Common locomotive engineer skills
  • Safety Procedures, 13%
  • Locomotives, 13%
  • FRA, 10%
  • Rail Cars, 6%
  • Conductors, 6%
  • Safety Rules, 5%
Common freight engineer skills
  • Safety Rules, 42%
  • Locomotives, 20%
  • FRA, 17%
  • DOT, 10%
  • Air Pressure, 10%

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