Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Tennessee make a median of $81,410 a year, or about $39.14 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $90,677 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $81K get you in Tennessee?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Locomotive engineers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,964/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Tennessee pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Tennessee?
The median is $81,410 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,060, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $91,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,472/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $90,677 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.