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Locomotive engineer vs train engineer

The differences between locomotive engineers and train 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 train engineer. Additionally, a train engineer has an average salary of $82,531, 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 train engineer are pi planning, release train, and scrum.

Locomotive engineer vs train engineer overview

Locomotive EngineerTrain Engineer
Yearly salary$55,268$82,531
Hourly rate$26.57$39.68
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs1,00521,639
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

Locomotive engineer vs train engineer salary

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

Locomotive EngineerTrain Engineer
Average salary$55,268$82,531
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $76,000Between $50,000 And $133,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Chevron
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between locomotive engineer and train engineer education

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

Locomotive EngineerTrain Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessCivil Engineering
Most common college--

Locomotive engineer vs train engineer demographics

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

Locomotive EngineerTrain Engineer
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 95.2% Female, 4.8%Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0%
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, 12.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 1.9% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between locomotive engineer and train 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

Train engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage general facilities including commissioning, building management systems, and calibrations for GMP area for tablets production operation.
  • Used VRML and Java for interfacing (EAI).
  • Gain experience as an EIT.
  • Support the scrum development team by resolving impediments.
  • Perform asphalt, concrete, and soil testing.
  • Optimize department SharePoint site by arranging new folder structure and project tracking numbers.
  • Show more

Locomotive engineer vs train engineer skills

Common locomotive engineer skills
  • Safety Procedures, 13%
  • Locomotives, 13%
  • FRA, 10%
  • Rail Cars, 6%
  • Conductors, 6%
  • Safety Rules, 5%
Common train engineer skills
  • Pi Planning, 21%
  • Release Train, 17%
  • Scrum, 13%
  • RTE, 11%
  • PI, 7%
  • Continuous Improvement, 7%

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