Locomotive Engineers Salary
Locomotive Engineers in West Virginia make a median of $64,400 a year, or about $30.96 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $72,335 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $64K get you in West Virginia?
About locomotive engineers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for locomotive engineers in West Virginia runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $81K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for locomotive engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level locomotive engineers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locomotive engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locomotive engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for locomotive engineers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locomotive engineers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,773/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is locomotive engineer a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $64K here vs. $81K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for locomotive engineers?
West Virginia pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do locomotive engineers make in West Virginia?
The median is $64,400 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,880, and experienced locomotive engineers can clear $90,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,274/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 23.6% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $72,335 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.