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Salary comparison

Locomotive Engineers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Locomotive Engineerss out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands by $41K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Locomotive Engineerss land at $81,410 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands at $40,240. The education gap is real: locomotive engineer programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Locomotive Engineerss is New York ($109,220); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Locomotive Engineers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$81,410
$40,240
Hourly rate
$39.14/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$60,680
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$109,220
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
33,470
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
New York
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Locomotive Engineers median pay.

State
Locomotive Engineers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
New York
$109,220
$44,630
Massachusetts
$108,790
$44,920
Minnesota
$93,700
$46,280
Indiana
$92,790
$41,340
Montana
$90,220
$43,840
Iowa
$89,970
$43,490
Arizona
$89,840
$44,290
Colorado
$89,360
$45,370
Wisconsin
$84,550
$44,610
Pennsylvania
$82,460
$42,480
Oregon
$79,130
$44,750
Kentucky
$77,620
$42,770
California
$77,070
$44,710
Washington
$73,750
$46,190
New Hampshire
$70,670
$42,110

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Locomotive Engineerss or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands?

Locomotive Engineerss earn more nationally. The median is $81,410 for Locomotive Engineerss versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands, a difference of $41K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Locomotive Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Locomotive Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Locomotive Engineers typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Locomotive Engineerss get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Locomotive Engineerss at $109,220/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Locomotive Engineers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Locomotive Engineerss earn $109,220 vs. $44,630 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Locomotive Engineers salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Locomotive Engineerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands by take-home payExplore →How to become a locomotive engineersGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →