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Job outlook for train engineers in the United States
Train engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected train engineer job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 3,100 new jobs for train engineers are projected over the next decade.
Train engineer salaries have increased 25% for train engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 15,336 train engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 21,639 active train engineer job openings in the US.
The average train engineer salary is $82,531.
Are train engineer jobs in demand?
Train engineer job and salary trends over time
Train engineer jobs over time
Train engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,336 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 14,600 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,974 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 13,711 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,037 | 0.00% |
Average train engineer salary over time
Train engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,531 | $39.68 | +7.1% |
| 2024 | $77,042 | $37.04 | +8.0% |
| 2023 | $71,312 | $34.28 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $70,037 | $33.67 | +5.8% |
| 2021 | $66,225 | $31.84 | +2.5% |
Train engineer jobs by state
Most common states for train engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 215 | 31% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 818 | 10% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 563 | 8% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 538 | 8% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 499 | 8% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 427 | 8% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 79 | 8% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 296 | 7% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,476 | 6% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 173 | 6% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 333 | 5% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 90 | 5% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 62 | 5% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 40 | 5% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 31 | 5% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 30 | 5% |
| 17 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 409 | 4% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 192 | 4% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 145 | 4% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 38 | 4% |
Most common cities for train engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $83,021 |
| 2 | Hamden | 3 | 5% | $94,148 |
| 3 | Wilmington | 3 | 4% | $94,539 |
| 4 | Fort Lauderdale | 4 | 2% | $73,203 |
| 5 | Huntsville | 4 | 2% | $87,049 |
| 6 | Springfield | 2 | 2% | $84,654 |
| 7 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $82,661 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $72,069 |
| 9 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $86,075 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $77,378 |
| 11 | Springfield | 2 | 1% | $82,617 |
| 12 | Jacksonville | 3 | 0% | $81,338 |
| 13 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $85,374 |
| 14 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $88,287 |
| 15 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $83,909 |
| 16 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $82,181 |
Train Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of train engineer experts
Oregon State University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Xavier University
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
East Tennessee State University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Liberty University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Northern Michigan University
Elon University
Marietta College
University of Maryland
University of Baltimore
Crafton Tull
Jiayue Shen
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program CoordinatorWhat will help Train Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jiayue Shen: In the next 3-5 years, skills such as electronic control, basic programming, and critical thinking will become increasingly important in the field of Mechanical Engineering Technology. As industries like robotics, automation, and semiconductors continue to grow, professionals will need to be well-versed in these areas to stay competitive. Additionally, skills such as collaboration and effective oral and written communication will be crucial for advancing in one's career.
What Train Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Devin Roach PhD: Apart from a strong knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals, students should focus on developing proficiency in emerging technologies such as machine learning (ML) applied to mechanical systems. Additionally, skills in computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation software will continue to be essential, especially as these tools evolve to incorporate advanced features like generative design and optimization algorithms. Moreover, expertise in sustainable design principles and renewable energy systems will likely become increasingly important as industries prioritize environmental sustainability. Finally, strong communication and collaboration skills will remain crucial, especially as mechanical engineers work in interdisciplinary teams and interact with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
Uises Gonzalez-Valle
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What will help Train Engineers increase their earning potential?
Uises Gonzalez-Valle: The beginning of professional life is not simple independent of the career path that you follow and ME and MET can have their own complications. However, some good advice would be to develop independence and adaptability which are key traits of an engineer, and always keep yourself updated with the most recent technological developments. If you are independent and adaptable, you have all the skills to learn and further your professional development. In addition, I would say it is essential to start building a network, including peers and mentors. Having a strong network of peers and mentors helps you significantly to progress in your professional line. From day-to-day to daily changing decisions, having a strong network to support would significantly help in building your professional path. Lastly, I would say that having a good Work-life balance is vital too, since our personal life is as important as our professional life. Remember, we should work to live instead of live to work.
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer
Professor and ChairXavier University
Department Of Physics
What skills stand out on Train Engineer resumes?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Programming languages, numerical design and simulation tools, knowledge of various measurement equipment.
What soft skills should all Train Engineers possess?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Communication, teamwork.
What skills will help Train Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Problem-solving, troubleshooting, independent learner.
Mike DeVore Ph.D.
Professor & Program ChairCincinnati State Technical & Community College
Mechanical Engineering Technology
What skills stand out on Train Engineer resumes?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: The skills that stand out for the resumes of students who graduate from our MET program include CAD skills (AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks, and NX), experience in additive manufacturing, hands-on skills in manual machining and CNC, knowledge of engineering materials, and well-rounded education that includes two semesters of co-op experience.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Train Engineers?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: -Computer-Aided Design
-Knowledge of manufacturing processes
-A good mathematics foundation
-Technical communication
-Problem solving
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty CoordinatorEast Tennessee State University
Surveying and Mapping
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Train Engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson: 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.
Charles Jenckes
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
Mechanical Engineering
What skills stand out on Train Engineer resumes?
Charles Jenckes: For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student
How would you rate the starting salaries for Train Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Daisy Huang: Above average, but you won't be a millionaire easily (you can with some effort, saving, and investing well). It is very unlikely you'll ever be *super* wealthy, but it's also very unlikely you'll ever not find employment in your field. You'll have a solid ticket to a modestly comfortable life, with some luxuries, too.
Dr. Sohrab Asgarpoor
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Professor of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
College of Engineering
How do you envision technology impacting Train Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Sohrab Asgarpoor: Adopting new technology should be an exciting (and expected) reality for those with an engineering degree. The virtual space will continue to grow as folks seek jobs and work online more. But what holds paramount, no matter what particular technological changes arise, is the ability to adapt-and to demonstrate that critical aptitude in their application documents and through their interviews, always highlighting those moments they've done so and articulating their propensity for learning.
What experience really stands out on Train Engineer resumes?
Robert Rich: -Certification such as green belt, black-belt, machine learning, Lean Manufacturing, and APICS supply chain/inventory
-Specialized undergraduate research projects that go deep into various leading-edge topics like integrating AI with manufacturing and logistics
-Consulting experience/real projects within areas of undergraduate research
Dr. Galen Duree
Head of the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering and ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Physics and Optical Engineering
What experience really stands out on Train Engineer resumes?
Dr. Galen Duree: It depends on what you are applying for. If you are working on product development, then internships or co-ops provide a definite advantage. If you are working on developing new ways of doing things, research experiences in academia or companies are advantageous. Either case, this shows a certain maturity in your career path - you have participated in an activity related to the career you are currently pursuing.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Train Engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Galen Duree: People with knowledge, even introductory experience, in quantum effects, quantum computing, optics in general (communication, measurements, imaging, illumination, detection), material science and engineering, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, will be in high demand.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Train Engineers?
Michael Rudisill: It depends on what you really mean by enduring, but for all practical purposes, once the pandemic has passed, the economy will return, and anyone in the engineering field who wants a job will have many opportunities. Obviously, the short-term effect can be brutal for new graduates as jobs are not as plentiful as "usual"-but in the long term, those that persevere will end up in great careers. In some ways, it will be harder on the senior engineers who haven't stayed employed, as they are missing out on years when their income should be the highest. New graduates are missing relatively low earning years, so the long-term effects should not be as bad looking at lifetime earnings.
How do you envision technology impacting Train Engineers in the next 5 years?
Michael Rudisill: Technology will continue to advance-which will increase the need for trained engineers. Even areas such as sales that not many people would think would be looking for engineers when dealing with technologically advanced products need people who understand how the product works, perform, etc.-in other words-trained engineers.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Train Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill: From what we've seen, salaries haven't been reduced, even though demand is down. I would expect wages and salary progression to remain strong as the need for engineering will only continue to grow.
What type of skills will young Train Engineers need?
John Ring: While our universities consistently educate engineering students with hard skills and strong engineering fundamentals, tomorrow's engineers need to be strong communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Our professional environments are filled with data and information, and the constraint is typically how much time individuals can dedicate to solving a problem. At Elon University, we educate tomorrow's engineers to have the hard skills necessary to analyze the information and situations, apply critical thinking techniques to determine ways to solve the issue, and then concisely and efficiently communicate with colleagues as solutions are being set in motion.
How do you envision technology impacting Train Engineers in the next 5 years?
John Ring: An engineering student learns "how to learn" during their time in college. Technology will evolve, and tomorrow's engineers must learn at the same pace so that new technology can be applied to solve a problem.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Train Engineers?
Ben Ebenhack: I believe that the impact of the pandemic on the US economy is still unfolding and that we won't be able to see any kind of robust turnaround until vaccines are widely available and seen, in practice, to be effective. Until that time, I suspect that we'll continue to see a lot of volatility as investors speculate about recovery, reopening, etc., but the trends will probably vacillate.
Once the pandemic is clearly seen to be reasonably well-controlled, I think that there will be a good deal of pent-up demand for energy and its services. I expect to see a modest recovery in energy prices, but that may not translate to jobs for a few years. Ultimately, the world's need for energy will drive prices up, and there will probably be another boom. Everyone should remember that half of humanity (~3.5 billion people) lack access to modern energy, on which development depends. With global economic recovery, I would expect that to apply considerable upward pressure on energy (and related resource) demands for the next several decades. Alternative energy will continue to grow, but I don't think it can grow as fast as some optimists expect.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Train Engineers?
Craig Carignan: Yes, it will have an enduring impact on aerospace grads, especially those going into aeronautical engineering. The airline industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic, and commercial aircraft manufacture has come to a screeching halt. That means not just the airplane manufacturers being affected but all of the hundreds of aircraft parts suppliers too. The other factor is that people are learning how to attend conferences and meetings virtually, through applications like Zoom and Teams, which also saves a lot of money on travel. So even when things do start returning to normal, I think that the demand for air travel will not return to the same levels as before.
Some long term impact may also be felt by the space industry. Even though there are quarantine precautions in place (before and after a flight), human space flight might be seen as riskier due to possible infection from viruses that may not show symptoms. So we might try to do more from the ground using robotics. Also, the density of workers in a lot of places in the aerospace industry is very high, and I would expect telecommuting to become more common.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Train Engineers?
Dr. Giovanni Vincenti: COVID-19 put into perspective the importance of technology for everyone. Those people who would typically work in fully staffed offices and took IT systems for granted have now realized how the lack of dedicated personnel and resources is a significant issue as everyone is working from home. The same realization has also reached upper-management, often creating a nearly immediate need for innovation that would have otherwise remained just a plan for the future. Graduates in the IT field and technology, in general, will benefit from this realization, as projects move from the planning stage into implementation and eventually maintenance. This increment in reliance on IT-related resources will create a greater need for employment.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Train Engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Giovanni Vincenti: Cities that are typically associated with technology will probably remain hubs of innovation, especially if they have local administrations that are favorable towards entrepreneurship. However, the recent need for companies to leverage the ability to work remotely has opened up the possibilities of workers who may not otherwise be willing to relocate. This trend is probably here to stay for a while, so the ability of graduates to work with virtual collaborators will bring tech jobs to parts of the country that are not typically known for innovation. Even though there probably will not be clusters that will identify new equivalents of Silicon Valley out of nowhere, the fact that the reach of potential employees has extended beyond their geographical immediacy will create major opportunities for any location.
What general advice would you give to a Train Engineer?
Libby Toping: It has definitely been a unique time to start my first job. COVID-19 has caused many of my peers to struggle to find a job, so I think it has caused me to recognize how thankful I am to have a job that I enjoy working and that allows me to improve my community, even in the midst of a pandemic. There are certainly struggles with virtual meetings and mask-wearing, but learning to be flexible and adaptable are skills that I think will make me a better engineer in the long run!