Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Montana make a median of $90,220 a year, or about $43.38 an hour. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $93,010 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $90K get you in Montana?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for locomotive engineers, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $81K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Montana offers a genuinely strong financial position for locomotive engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,828/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $90K here vs. $81K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Montana pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Montana?
The median is $90,220 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,460, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $126,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,637/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 20% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $93,010 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.