Best cities for a train engineer
The best cities for train engineers are Lincoln, NE, Nashville, TN, and Arlington, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for train engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for train engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a train engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for train engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for train engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a train engineer. While the absolute best city for train engineers is Lincoln, NE, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for train engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a train engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for train engineers in 2025
1. Lincoln, NE
Total train engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $90,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 2.66 2. Nashville, TN
Total train engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $81,634 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 3.63 3. Arlington, TX
Total train engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $78,183 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 9.15 4. Dallas, TX
Total train engineer jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $78,095 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 7.90 5. Lubbock, TX
Total train engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $79,196 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 4.90 6. Garland, TX
Total train engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $78,007 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 11.87 7. Saint Paul, MN
Total train engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $90,061 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 2.67 8. Colorado Springs, CO
Total train engineer jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $86,632 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 7.45 9. Memphis, TN
Total train engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $81,519 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 2.59 10. El Paso, TX
Total train engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $80,367 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 3.85
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Best cities for train engineers
- Lincoln, NE
- Nashville, TN
- Arlington, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Garland, TX
- Saint Paul, MN
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Memphis, TN
- El Paso, TX
- (4 train engineer jobs)
- (13 train engineer jobs)
- (6 train engineer jobs)
- (66 train engineer jobs)
- (2 train engineer jobs)
- (3 train engineer jobs)
- (7 train engineer jobs)
- (22 train engineer jobs)
- (7 train engineer jobs)
- (3 train engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a train engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $90,257 | $60,000 | 280,364 | 4 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $81,634 | $54,000 | 660,388 | 13 |
| 3 | Arlington, TX | $78,183 | $51,000 | 392,772 | 6 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $78,095 | $50,000 | 1,317,929 | 66 |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $79,196 | $52,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 6 | Garland, TX | $78,007 | $50,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,061 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $86,632 | $56,000 | 465,101 | 22 |
| 9 | Memphis, TN | $81,519 | $53,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $80,367 | $53,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $85,395 | $58,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $77,024 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 13 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $82,526 | $55,000 | 311,404 | 12 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $77,819 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | 19 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $101,831 | $67,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $78,124 | $50,000 | 947,890 | 25 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $90,076 | $60,000 | 446,970 | 3 |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $106,367 | $70,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 19 | Newark, NJ | $88,506 | $60,000 | 281,764 | 10 |
| 20 | Corpus Christi, TX | $75,935 | $49,000 | 325,733 | 6 |
| 21 | Aurora, CO | $86,087 | $56,000 | 361,710 | 7 |
| 22 | Denver, CO | $86,075 | $56,000 | 693,060 | 47 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $77,485 | $50,000 | 2,303,482 | 65 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $92,761 | $62,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $98,832 | $65,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | $90,029 | $61,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,351 | $61,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 28 | Fort Worth, TX | $78,226 | $51,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $76,950 | $51,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $109,442 | $73,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 31 | North Las Vegas, NV | $98,748 | $65,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $98,197 | $64,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 33 | Virginia Beach, VA | $84,336 | $56,000 | 452,602 | 3 |
| 34 | Henderson, NV | $98,416 | $65,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $76,007 | $50,000 | 842,051 | 20 |
| 36 | Norfolk, VA | $84,141 | $56,000 | 245,115 | 3 |
| 37 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,115 | $63,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 38 | Wichita, KS | $85,571 | $56,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $85,374 | $58,000 | 2,704,958 | 15 |
| 40 | Plano, TX | $77,984 | $50,000 | 286,057 | 6 |
| 41 | New Orleans, LA | $76,909 | $49,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $69,051 | $46,000 | 860,090 | 29 |
| 43 | San Jose, CA | $100,982 | $66,000 | 1,025,350 | 7 |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $99,093 | $70,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 45 | San Francisco, CA | $102,098 | $67,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 46 | Orlando, FL | $78,964 | $50,000 | 277,173 | 5 |
| 47 | Tulsa, OK | $72,073 | $47,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 48 | Oakland, CA | $101,933 | $67,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 49 | Fremont, CA | $101,454 | $66,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 50 | Phoenix, AZ | $71,388 | $47,000 | 1,615,017 | 35 |
Highest paying cities for train engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. train engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $109,442 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $100,982 |
| 3 | Midvale, UT | $97,963 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $90,732 |
| 5 | Eden Prairie, MN | $90,001 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $88,287 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $86,632 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $85,395 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $85,374 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $83,909 |
| 11 | Annapolis, MD | $83,021 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $82,526 |
| 13 | Natick, MA | $82,326 |
| 14 | Pensacola, FL | $81,887 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $78,124 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge, LA | $77,378 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $77,024 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $72,069 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $71,388 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $69,051 |
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Updated January 8, 2025