Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Louisiana make a median of $64,200 a year, or about $30.87 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $73,556 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Louisiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $64K get you in Louisiana?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for locomotive engineers in Louisiana runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 27.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,831/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $64K here vs. $81K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Louisiana pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Louisiana?
The median is $64,200 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,180, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $73,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,284/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 27.8% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $73,556 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.