Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in South Carolina make a median of $89,290 a year, or about $42.93 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $95,836 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $89K get you in South Carolina?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Locomotive engineers pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $89K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (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, South Carolina
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,501/month. At HUD’s $1,263/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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $89K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
South Carolina pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in South Carolina?
The median is $89,290 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,350, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $89,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,593/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 22.6% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $95,836 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.