A career as a railroad engineer requires a high school diploma or GED in addition to experience in the field and the completion of a training program. These positions are predicted to decline in the coming years, however.
Essential Information
Railroad engineers are responsible for the safety of commuters and cargo on passenger, urban transit and freight trains. Duties may include conducting routine checks before and after each run, and handling and monitoring trains during travel. Engineers must hold a federal license to operate a train, which entails completing a training program and passing several tests.
| Required Education | High school diploma at minimum; certificates and associate's degrees in railroad operations are available |
| Other Requirements | Completion of an engineer training program and a sufficient number of years of experience working in the industry, often as conductors or brakemen; vision tests, background checks, drug screenings and proficiency exams |
| Licensure | Federal licensing as a train engineer is mandatory |
| Projected Job Outlook (2019-2029)* | -3% for locomotive engineers |
| Median Salary (2020)* | $71,870 for locomotive engineers |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Training Requirements for Railroad Engineers
Railroad engineers typically begin as brakemen or conductors and earn promotion through experience and training. Candidates for advancement into an engineer position must be 21 or older, have a high school diploma and complete an engineer training program. Most railroads offer federally-approved training programs that combine on-the-job and classroom instruction. Candidates may also seek formal education through a professional organization or community college which offers an associate's degree or certificate in railroad operations.
Training programs might cover topics such as hydraulic brakes, welding and engine repair. A certificate program might be completed in a few months, while an associate's degree program might take two years to finish.
After completing training, aspiring locomotive engineers must pass drug and alcohol tests, vision and hearing tests, railroad safety background checks and exams on skills and operating knowledge. Candidates then receive a federal license, which is mandatory for train engineers in the United States. To maintain licensure, engineers must pass periodic on-the-spot tests and physical exams, as well as random drug and alcohol screenings.
Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), locomotive engineers earned a median annual wage of $71,870 in May 2020 (www.bls.gov). These engineers are typically paid hourly or per-mile wages for each assignment, depending on length of travel, destination and experience.
Pay also varies by the state in which engineers are employed. In May 2020, Nebraska had the highest average salary at $78,510, while California came in second with a mean annual wage of $78,470.
Job Outlook
The BLS predicted a three percent employment decline for locomotive engineers between 2019 and 2029. The lack of new tracks being made will likely limit growth, according to the BLS.
The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which requires that an engineer cannot work more than 276 hours per month or more than 12 hours per shift, may have led to an increased demand for engineers to fill those unmanned hours. However, job growth was expected to be counterbalanced by advances in automated train technologies, which increase efficiency and require fewer employees, per the BLS.
Railroad engineers complete formal training and then seek required federal licensing, which includes passing an exam and meeting various health and background checks. These positions have a median salary of about $72,000.