Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Oregon make a median of $79,130 a year, or about $38.05 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $77,245 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,555/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Oregon. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $79K get you in Oregon?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Oregon
Locomotive engineers pay in Oregon tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,555/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 32.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,046/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Oregon?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Oregon pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Oregon?
The median is $79,130 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,440, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $83,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,805/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 32.4% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median locomotive engineers salary is worth about $77,245 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.