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Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas
Want to work as a Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas? Below are the key facts. 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).
What do Locomotive Engineers Make in Arkansas?
For locomotive engineers working in Arkansas, the median annual wage is $77,010 per year (or about $37.03/hour).Annual wages span from $50,160 at the 10th percentile to $105,340 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| 25th percentile | $72,900 | $35.05 |
| Median (50th) | $77,010 | $37.03 |
| 75th percentile | $77,010 | $37.03 |
| 90th percentile | $105,340 | $50.65 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Arkansas relative to the national average — is 2.63, suggesting that locomotive engineers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, locomotive engineers earn a median of $61,391 per year ($29.51/hour), higher than the Arkansas median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 89,503 locomotive engineers in the U.S.. In Arkansas alone, approximately 700 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 530 locomotive engineers.
Top States for Locomotive Engineers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most locomotive engineers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 4,040 |
| Illinois | 2,130 |
| California | 1,670 |
| Iowa | 1,520 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,460 |
| New York | 1,290 |
| Kansas | 990 |
| Montana | 970 |
| Georgia | 870 |
| Indiana | 860 |
| Washington | 810 |
| Missouri | 810 |
| Minnesota | 730 |
| Nebraska | 720 |
| Arkansas | 700 |
| Florida | 620 |
| Tennessee | 610 |
| Oregon | 530 |
| Virginia | 520 |
| Massachusetts | 500 |
Highest-Paying States for Locomotive Engineers
These states pay the most for locomotive engineers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $107,290 |
| Massachusetts | $104,950 |
| Connecticut | $103,010 |
| Iowa | $87,550 |
| Oklahoma | $86,520 |
| Nebraska | $84,870 |
| New Jersey | $84,230 |
| Illinois | $83,690 |
| Delaware | $82,920 |
| Wisconsin | $82,190 |
Skills
The most important locomotive engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for locomotive engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Locomotive Engineers typically:
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.
- Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
- Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
- Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.
- Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
- Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
- Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.
- Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Getting Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Processing Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Related occupations to locomotive engineers include:
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Also Known As
Diesel Engine Operator, Diesel Engineer, Diesel Locomotive Engineer, Engine Pilot, Engineer, Engineman, Freight Engineer, Fuel Pilot Engineer, Locomotive Engineer, Locomotive Operator, Lokie Driver, Lokie Engineer, Motor Driver, Motor Operator, Motor Runner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 53-4011.00