Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas make a median of $78,930 a year, or about $37.95 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $90,062 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
About locomotive engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Locomotive engineers pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,315/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Arkansas pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Arkansas?
The median is $78,930 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,050, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $78,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,084/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 20.1% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $90,062 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.