Locomotive Engineer salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Locomotive Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $57,140 a year ($27.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,960 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $81,410. Pay here is 28% lower than the Texas statewide median of $79,000. There are 0.03 locomotive engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.14). The average (mean) salary is $57,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for locomotive engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| 25th percentile | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| Median | $57,140 | $27.47 |
| 75th percentile | $58,260 | $28.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,960 | $35.08 |
| Average (mean) | $57,440 | $27.62 |
Half of locomotive engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,761.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,380.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,197.69 |
| Weekly | $1,098.85 |
| Hourly | $27.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,140 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Locomotive Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,340 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for locomotive engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $109,220 |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 |
| Minnesota | $93,700 |
| Illinois | $93,320 |
| Indiana | $92,790 |
| Florida | $92,310 |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 |
| Virginia | $90,780 |
| Montana | $90,220 |
See Locomotive Engineer pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $40,270 | $19.36 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,840 | $27.33 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $43,570 | $20.95 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,650 | $14.26 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $307,690 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-4011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a locomotive engineer make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for locomotive engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $57,140 a year, or $27.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid locomotive engineers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of locomotive engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $72,960 a year. The top 25% earn $58,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for locomotive engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,000 a year, and a quarter of locomotive engineers earn $50,130 or less.
How many locomotive engineers work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 100 locomotive engineers are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.