Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Kentucky make a median of $77,620 a year, or about $37.32 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $86,025 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 21.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $78K get you in Kentucky?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Locomotive engineers pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,709/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Kentucky pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Kentucky?
The median is $77,620 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,820, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $98,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,991/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $86,025 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.