Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in Virginia make a median of $90,780 a year, or about $43.64 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $95,770 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 28.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $91K get you in Virginia?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for locomotive engineers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,749/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $91K here vs. $81K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
Virginia pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in Virginia?
The median is $90,780 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,490, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $90,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,629/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $95,770 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.