Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Colorado make a median of $89,360 a year, or about $42.96 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $86,163 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Colorado. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $89K actually covers in Colorado, 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 Colorado
Locomotive engineers pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $89K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado 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 Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,824/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $89K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Colorado pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Colorado?
The median is $89,360 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,730, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $125,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,610/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 32.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a locomotive engineers salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median locomotive engineers salary is worth about $86,163 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.