Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Ohio make a median of $63,280 a year, or about $30.42 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $69,196 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Ohio. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $63K get you in Ohio?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for locomotive engineers in Ohio runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,787/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $63K here vs. $81K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Ohio pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Ohio?
The median is $63,280 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,110, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $77,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,320/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 27.5% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $69,196 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.