Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in New Mexico make a median of $88,330 a year, or about $42.47 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $94,917 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 20% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $88K get you in New Mexico?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Locomotive engineers pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $88K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,038/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $88K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
New Mexico pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in New Mexico?
The median is $88,330 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,960, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $92,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,599/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $94,917 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.