Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Arizona make a median of $89,840 a year, or about $43.19 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $93,185 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arizona. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $90K get you in Arizona?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Locomotive engineers pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $90K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,909/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $90K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Arizona pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Arizona?
The median is $89,840 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,810, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $93,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,779/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 24.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a locomotive engineers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median locomotive engineers salary is worth about $93,185 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do locomotive engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.