Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in North Carolina make a median of $61,190 a year, or about $29.42 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $66,037 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $61K get you in North Carolina?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for locomotive engineers in North Carolina runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 31.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,575/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $61K here vs. $81K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
North Carolina pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in North Carolina?
The median is $61,190 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,580, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $70,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,038/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 31.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $66,037 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.