Locomotive Engineers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$61,820
- 25th Percentile — Junior$77,590
- 50th Percentile — Median$77,620
- 75th Percentile — Senior$96,810
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$98,080
Half of Locomotive Engineers in Kentucky earn more than $77,620. The top 10% make $98,080 or more, while entry-level workers start around $61,820.
Locomotive Engineers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 18th of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers pay, at $83,310 per year (3.0% below the U.S. average of $85,900).
- 540 people work as Locomotive Engineers in Kentucky — 1.6% of all U.S. Locomotive Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.25: Locomotive Engineers jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,820; the top 10% earn over $98,080.
- Hourly equivalent: $40.05 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Mississippi at $125,980.
- Among transportation jobs in Kentucky, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($302,340).
Locomotive Engineers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Locomotive Engineers here earn $83,310 on average, placing the state 18th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $83,310 is roughly equivalent to $100,373 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Iowa ($86,180), Tennessee ($85,470), Virginia ($85,310) 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 Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $302,340/yr Kentucky +262.9% vs this role
- Commercial Pilots $168,100/yr Kentucky +101.8% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $121,910/yr Kentucky +46.3% vs this role
- Transportation Inspectors $85,350/yr Kentucky +2.4% vs this role
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,870/yr Kentucky 28.1% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $49,630/yr Kentucky 40.4% vs this role
- Light Truck Drivers $48,880/yr Kentucky 41.3% vs this role
- Laborers and Freight Stock Material Movers $41,960/yr Kentucky 49.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Locomotive Engineers salary in Kentucky?
The average Locomotive Engineers salary in Kentucky is $83,310 per year (median $77,620), which is 3.0% below the national average of $85,900.
How does Kentucky rank for Locomotive Engineers pay?
Kentucky ranks 18th out of 35 states. The highest-paying state is Mississippi ($125,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Locomotive Engineers make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Locomotive Engineers in Kentucky earn about $61,820 per year and the 25th percentile is $77,590.
How much do Locomotive Engineers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $40.05 per hour, based on the $83,310 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Locomotive Engineers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 540 Locomotive Engineers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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