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Best states for a train engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to train engineer jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for train engineers.
We figured that the best places for train engineer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a train engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for train engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total train engineer jobs: 563 Average annual salary: $108,512 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
2. Utah
Total train engineer jobs: 173 Average annual salary: $98,068 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. Delaware
Total train engineer jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $94,521 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
4. Alaska
Total train engineer jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $98,030 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Nevada
Total train engineer jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $99,948 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
6. Wyoming
Total train engineer jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $91,462 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
7. Oregon
Total train engineer jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $93,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
8. California
Total train engineer jobs: 2,476 Average annual salary: $94,047 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
9. Connecticut
Total train engineer jobs: 145 Average annual salary: $94,011 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. Maine
Total train engineer jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $97,638 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 0.37
Train engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a train engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a train engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $108,512 | $73,000 | 7,405,743 | 563 |
| 2 | Utah | $98,068 | $64,000 | 3,101,833 | 173 |
| 3 | Delaware | $94,521 | $64,000 | 961,939 | 79 |
| 4 | Alaska | $98,030 | $70,000 | 739,795 | 40 |
| 5 | Nevada | $99,948 | $66,000 | 2,998,039 | 73 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $91,462 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 30 |
| 7 | Oregon | $93,773 | $63,000 | 4,142,776 | 296 |
| 8 | California | $94,047 | $62,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,476 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $94,011 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 145 |
| 10 | Maine | $97,638 | $67,000 | 1,335,907 | 24 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $92,513 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 399 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $93,643 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 38 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $90,224 | $60,000 | 1,920,076 | 90 |
| 14 | Alabama | $86,802 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 192 |
| 15 | New York | $90,395 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 588 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $90,974 | $62,000 | 1,342,795 | 62 |
| 17 | Michigan | $85,146 | $58,000 | 9,962,311 | 409 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $92,322 | $60,000 | 2,984,100 | 30 |
| 19 | Colorado | $86,113 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 427 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $88,169 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 215 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $89,972 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 238 |
| 22 | Virginia | $83,702 | $56,000 | 8,470,020 | 818 |
| 23 | Illinois | $85,220 | $58,000 | 12,802,023 | 494 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $87,604 | $59,000 | 1,815,857 | 23 |
| 25 | Iowa | $83,946 | $57,000 | 3,145,711 | 127 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $88,485 | $60,000 | 9,005,644 | 265 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $82,235 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 538 |
| 28 | Maryland | $82,808 | $56,000 | 6,052,177 | 499 |
| 29 | Kansas | $84,737 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 92 |
| 30 | Texas | $77,835 | $51,000 | 28,304,596 | 912 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $81,681 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 141 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $83,616 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 14 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $76,429 | $51,000 | 10,273,419 | 413 |
| 34 | Missouri | $82,320 | $55,000 | 6,113,532 | 162 |
| 35 | Vermont | $78,782 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 31 |
| 36 | Arizona | $71,246 | $47,000 | 7,016,270 | 333 |
| 37 | Florida | $76,685 | $49,000 | 20,984,400 | 666 |
| 38 | Georgia | $72,032 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 460 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $77,266 | $50,000 | 4,684,333 | 80 |
| 40 | Ohio | $69,136 | $47,000 | 11,658,609 | 366 |
| 41 | Idaho | $67,411 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 71 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $72,338 | $47,000 | 3,930,864 | 69 |
| 43 | Montana | $68,513 | $45,000 | 1,050,493 | 44 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $68,832 | $45,000 | 5,024,369 | 147 |
| 45 | Indiana | $62,985 | $42,000 | 6,666,818 | 273 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $52,035 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 38 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $66,167 | $44,000 | 4,454,189 | 110 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $62,535 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 228 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $66,218 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 15 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $64,621 | $42,000 | 2,088,070 | 53 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $61,654 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 66 |
Highest paying states for train engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Train Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $108,512 |
| 2 | Utah | $98,068 |
| 3 | Delaware | $94,521 |
| 4 | Alaska | $98,030 |
| 5 | Nevada | $99,948 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $91,462 |
| 7 | Oregon | $93,773 |
| 8 | California | $94,047 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $94,011 |
| 10 | Maine | $97,638 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $92,513 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $93,643 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $90,224 |
| 14 | Alabama | $86,802 |
| 15 | New York | $90,395 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $90,974 |
| 17 | Michigan | $85,146 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $92,322 |
| 19 | Colorado | $86,113 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $88,169 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $89,972 |
| 22 | Virginia | $83,702 |
| 23 | Illinois | $85,220 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $87,604 |
| 25 | Iowa | $83,946 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $88,485 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $82,235 |
| 28 | Maryland | $82,808 |
| 29 | Kansas | $84,737 |
| 30 | Texas | $77,835 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $81,681 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $83,616 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $76,429 |
| 34 | Missouri | $82,320 |
| 35 | Vermont | $78,782 |
| 36 | Arizona | $71,246 |
| 37 | Florida | $76,685 |
| 38 | Georgia | $72,032 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $77,266 |
| 40 | Ohio | $69,136 |
| 41 | Idaho | $67,411 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $72,338 |
| 43 | Montana | $68,513 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $68,832 |
| 45 | Indiana | $62,985 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $52,035 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $66,167 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $62,535 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $66,218 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $64,621 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $61,654 |
Expert opinions on the best states for train engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for train engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
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Updated January 8, 2025