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Train engineer salary
Average train engineer salary
$82,531
Understanding Train Engineer Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Train Engineer is approximately $82,531 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries compared to others due to increased demand and cost of living.
In addition to base salary, many train engineers benefit from overtime opportunities and specialized roles that can significantly enhance their overall compensation. The highest-paying industries for train engineers include freight and passenger rail services, where skilled professionals are crucial for operational efficiency and safety.
For those considering a career in this field, understanding the regional salary landscape and the potential for growth is vital. Utilizing resources like Zippia can provide insights into job openings, salary estimates, and career progression, helping prospective engineers make informed career decisions.
Let Zippia find your next train engineer job
Let Zippia find your next train engineer job
Where can a Train Engineer earn more?
Train engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average train engineer salary by state
The average train engineer salary in Washington, Nevada, and Utah are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average train engineer salary states are Kentucky, New Mexico, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for train engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $108,512 | $52.17 |
| 2 | Utah | $98,068 | $47.15 |
| 3 | Delaware | $94,521 | $45.44 |
| 4 | Alaska | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| 5 | Nevada | $99,948 | $48.05 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $91,462 | $43.97 |
| 7 | Oregon | $93,773 | $45.08 |
| 8 | California | $94,047 | $45.21 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $94,011 | $45.20 |
| 10 | Maine | $97,638 | $46.94 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $92,513 | $44.48 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $93,643 | $45.02 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $90,224 | $43.38 |
| 14 | Alabama | $86,802 | $41.73 |
| 15 | New York | $90,395 | $43.46 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $90,974 | $43.74 |
| 17 | Michigan | $85,146 | $40.94 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $92,322 | $44.39 |
| 19 | Colorado | $86,113 | $41.40 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $88,169 | $42.39 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $89,972 | $43.26 |
| 22 | Virginia | $83,702 | $40.24 |
| 23 | Illinois | $85,220 | $40.97 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $87,604 | $42.12 |
| 25 | Iowa | $83,946 | $40.36 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $88,485 | $42.54 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $82,235 | $39.54 |
| 28 | Maryland | $82,808 | $39.81 |
| 29 | Kansas | $84,737 | $40.74 |
| 30 | Texas | $77,835 | $37.42 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $81,681 | $39.27 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $83,616 | $40.20 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $76,429 | $36.74 |
| 34 | Missouri | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| 35 | Vermont | $78,782 | $37.88 |
| 36 | Arizona | $71,246 | $34.25 |
| 37 | Florida | $76,685 | $36.87 |
| 38 | Georgia | $72,032 | $34.63 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $77,266 | $37.15 |
| 40 | Ohio | $69,136 | $33.24 |
| 41 | Idaho | $67,411 | $32.41 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $72,338 | $34.78 |
| 43 | Montana | $68,513 | $32.94 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $68,832 | $33.09 |
| 45 | Indiana | $62,985 | $30.28 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $52,035 | $25.02 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $66,167 | $31.81 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $62,535 | $30.06 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $66,218 | $31.84 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $64,621 | $31.07 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $61,654 | $29.64 |
Highest paying cities for train engineers
The highest-paying cities for train engineers are Seattle, WA, San Jose, CA, and Midvale, UT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $109,442 | $52.62 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $100,982 | $48.55 |
| 3 | Midvale, UT | $97,963 | $47.10 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $90,732 | $43.62 |
| 5 | Eden Prairie, MN | $90,001 | $43.27 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $88,287 | $42.45 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $86,632 | $41.65 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $85,395 | $41.06 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $85,374 | $41.05 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $83,909 | $40.34 |
| 11 | Annapolis, MD | $83,021 | $39.91 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $82,526 | $39.68 |
| 13 | Natick, MA | $82,326 | $39.58 |
| 14 | Pensacola, FL | $81,887 | $39.37 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $78,124 | $37.56 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge, LA | $77,378 | $37.20 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $77,024 | $37.03 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $72,069 | $34.65 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $71,388 | $34.32 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $69,051 | $33.20 |
Train engineer salary details
A train engineer's salary ranges from $50,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $133,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a train engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| Average | $82,531 | $6,878 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
Highest paying train engineer jobs
The highest paying types of train engineers are plant engineer, application engineer, and engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | $75,050 | $6,254 | $36.08 | 176,689 |
| Product Engineer | $89,645 | $7,470 | $43.10 | 157,888 |
| Application Engineer | $92,921 | $7,743 | $44.67 | 111,338 |
| Facility Engineer | $89,623 | $7,469 | $43.09 | 94,268 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Plant Engineer | $93,949 | $7,829 | $45.17 | 44,391 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for train engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring train engineers now:
Which companies pay train engineers the most?
Train engineer salaries at Chevron and VMware are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average train engineer salary at companies like Benjamin Moore and Adobe are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevron | $131,917 | $63.42 |
| 2 | VMware | $126,325 | $60.73 |
| 3 | Benjamin Moore | $123,502 | $59.38 |
| 4 | Adobe | $121,013 | $58.18 |
| 5 | Janus Henderson U.S. | $119,730 | $57.56 |
| 6 | F5 | $116,827 | $56.17 |
| 7 | American Express | $116,044 | $55.79 |
| 8 | Levi Strauss & Co. | $115,700 | $55.63 |
| 9 | Visa | $109,469 | $52.63 |
| 10 | M&T Bank | $109,371 | $52.58 |
| 11 | AT&T | $107,776 | $51.82 |
| 12 | RAND | $105,550 | $50.75 |
| 13 | Rancher Labs | $105,484 | $50.71 |
| 14 | Ciena | $104,850 | $50.41 |
| 15 | MetLife | $103,785 | $49.90 |
| 16 | USAA | $103,741 | $49.88 |
| 17 | American Family Insurance | $103,147 | $49.59 |
| 18 | Zebra Technologies | $102,110 | $49.09 |
| 19 | Boeing | $101,559 | $48.83 |
| 20 | TD Bank | $100,215 | $48.18 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Train Engineer salary by industry
The average train engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average train engineer salary in the manufacturing industry is $87,403, the highest of any industry.
- The average train engineer salary in the finance industry is $86,346.
- Train engineers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $78,176, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for train engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $87,403 | $42.02 |
| 2 | Technology | $86,346 | $41.51 |
| 3 | Agriculture | $86,014 | $41.35 |
| 4 | Transportation | $85,269 | $40.99 |
| 5 | Finance | $83,715 | $40.25 |
| 6 | Construction | $82,006 | $39.43 |
| 7 | Professional | $78,176 | $37.58 |
High paying train engineer jobs
Train engineer salary trends
The average train engineer salary has risen by $25,826 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average train engineer earned $56,705 annually, but today, they earn $82,531 a year. That works out to a 25% change in pay for train engineers over the last decade.
Compare train engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average train engineer salary over time
Compare train engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Train engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,500 | $39.68 | +6.7% |
| 2024 | $77,000 | $37.04 | +7.4% |
| 2023 | $71,300 | $34.28 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $70,000 | $33.67 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | $66,200 | $31.84 | +2.5% |
Recently added train engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Island | Seasonal Train Engineer | Mason, OH | 06/30/2025 | $70,000 |
| Ntrs | Release Train Engineer, Data Transformation | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $95,600 |
| ZP Group | Release Train Engineer (RTE) *Secret Clearance Required | Annapolis, MD | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| Cedar Fair | Seasonal Train Engineer | Mason, OH | 06/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| Six Flags, Corp | Seasonal Train Engineer | Mason, OH | 06/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| Synechron | Release Train Engineer | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/28/2025 | $110,000 |
| Teksystems | Release Train Engineer | Hartford, CT | 06/27/2025 | $156,525 |
| Fast + Epp | Engineer-In-Training | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $70,000 |
| Fast Epp | Engineer-In-Training | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $70,000 |
| M&T Bank | Release Train Engineer | Buffalo, NY | 06/25/2025 | $115,704 |
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