Locomotive Engineers Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$74,770
- 25th Percentile — Junior$74,850
- 50th Percentile — Median$89,970
- 75th Percentile — Senior$92,170
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$95,710
Half of Locomotive Engineers in Iowa earn more than $89,970. The top 10% make $95,710 or more, while entry-level workers start around $74,770.
Locomotive Engineers in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 14th of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers pay, at $86,180 per year (0.3% above the U.S. average of $85,900).
- 1,000 people work as Locomotive Engineers in Iowa — 3.0% of all U.S. Locomotive Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 2.98: Locomotive Engineers jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,770; the top 10% earn over $95,710.
- Hourly equivalent: $41.43 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Mississippi at $125,980.
- Among transportation jobs in Iowa, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($144,660).
Locomotive Engineers Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Locomotive Engineers here earn $86,180 on average, placing the state 14th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $86,180 is roughly equivalent to $100,209 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($90,740), Minnesota ($88,730), New Jersey ($88,640) are the closest alternatives for Locomotive Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Transportation Jobs in Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $144,660/yr Iowa +67.9% vs this role
- Commercial Pilots $124,640/yr Iowa +44.6% vs this role
- Transportation Inspectors $113,620/yr Iowa +31.8% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $91,670/yr Iowa +6.4% vs this role
- Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels $91,380/yr Iowa +6.0% vs this role
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,070/yr Iowa 30.3% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $48,870/yr Iowa 43.3% vs this role
- Light Truck Drivers $46,700/yr Iowa 45.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Locomotive Engineers salary in Iowa?
The average Locomotive Engineers salary in Iowa is $86,180 per year (median $89,970), which is 0.3% above the national average of $85,900.
How does Iowa rank for Locomotive Engineers pay?
Iowa ranks 14th out of 35 states. The highest-paying state is Mississippi ($125,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Locomotive Engineers make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Locomotive Engineers in Iowa earn about $74,770 per year and the 25th percentile is $74,850.
How much do Locomotive Engineers make per hour in Iowa?
About $41.43 per hour, based on the $86,180 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Locomotive Engineers work in Iowa?
BLS counts 1,000 Locomotive Engineers jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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