DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
53-4011 Locomotive Engineers
Occupational Description:
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations. Excludes ?Engineers? (17-2011 through 17-2199).| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 840 | 332 | $36.71/hr | $1.32/hr | $26.37/hr | $29.07/hr | $34.11/hr | $46.07/hr | $50.08/hr |
| U S | 35,520 | 2,664 | $35.19/hr | $0.49/hr | $23.21/hr | $28.00/hr | $32.99/hr | $43.53/hr | $49.69/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2022 - 2032 | |
| Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services | 15,680 | $18.75/hr | 9.1% |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 840 | $28.91/hr | 11.1% |
| Transportation Inspectors | 510 | $38.89/hr | 1.9% |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | 60 | $30.70/hr | 1.2% |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 60 | $23.43/hr | N/A |
| Motorboat Operators | N/A | $18.18/hr | N/A |
Tasks for Locomotive Engineers
- Interprets train orders, train signals, and railroad rules and regulations to drive locomotive, following safety regulations and time schedule.
- Inspects locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and other supplies.
- Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment.
- Synchronizes watch with that of conductor to ensure departure time from station or terminal is in accordance with time schedule.
- Prepares reports to explain accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.
- Drives diesel-electric rail-detector car to transport rail-flaw-detecting machine over railroad.
- Observes track to detect obstructions.
- Receives starting signal from conductor and moves controls, such as throttle and air brakes, to drive locomotive.
- Calls out train signals to assistant for verification of meaning to avoid errors in interpretation.
- Confers with conductor or traffic control center personnel via radiophone to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
