BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Locomotive Engineers in Virginia

$85,310 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$41.01 per hour

▼ 0.7% below U.S. average16th of 35 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$85,310per year
Median$90,780per year
Hourly$41.01per hour
10th – 90th percentile$62,490 – $90,940per year

Locomotive Engineers Pay Range in Virginia

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$62,490
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$82,020
  • 50th Percentile — Median$90,780
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$90,940
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$90,940

Half of Locomotive Engineers in Virginia earn more than $90,780. The top 10% make $90,940 or more, while entry-level workers start around $62,490.

Locomotive Engineers in Virginia: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Virginia ranks 16th of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers pay, at $85,310 per year (0.7% below the U.S. average of $85,900).
  • 790 people work as Locomotive Engineers in Virginia — 2.4% of all U.S. Locomotive Engineers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.89: Locomotive Engineers jobs are less concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $62,490; the top 10% earn over $90,940.
  • Hourly equivalent: $41.01 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Mississippi at $125,980.
  • Among transportation jobs in Virginia, Air Traffic Controllers pays the most ($175,740).

Locomotive Engineers Job Market in Virginia

Key factors affecting compensation

Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Locomotive Engineers here earn $85,310 on average, placing the state 16th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $85,310 is roughly equivalent to $77,555 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Jersey ($88,640), New Mexico ($86,590), Iowa ($86,180) are the closest alternatives for Locomotive Engineers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Locomotive Engineers salary in Virginia?

The average Locomotive Engineers salary in Virginia is $85,310 per year (median $90,780), which is 0.7% below the national average of $85,900.

How does Virginia rank for Locomotive Engineers pay?

Virginia ranks 16th out of 35 states. The highest-paying state is Mississippi ($125,980/yr).

How much do entry-level Locomotive Engineers make in Virginia?

The lowest-paid 10% of Locomotive Engineers in Virginia earn about $62,490 per year and the 25th percentile is $82,020.

How much do Locomotive Engineers make per hour in Virginia?

About $41.01 per hour, based on the $85,310 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Locomotive Engineers work in Virginia?

BLS counts 790 Locomotive Engineers jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).

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