Locomotive Engineers pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $156,870 or more. The middle half of locomotive engineers in Los Angeles earn between $50,820 and $156,850.
- $51K10th
- $51K25th
- $64KMedian
- $157K75th
- $157K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,260 | $8,188 | $47.24 |
| Median | $63,700 | $5,308 | $30.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,820 | $4,235 | $24.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $156,850 | $13,071 | $75.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Locomotive Engineers pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Locomotive engineers in Los Angeles earn 30% more than the California average ($75,600) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($85,900). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $81,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $98,260 | $63,700 | $50,820 | $156,870 | 40 |
| California | $75,600 | $77,070 | $52,260 | $79,940 | 1,570 |
| United States | $85,900 | $81,410 | $60,680 | $109,220 | 33,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Locomotive Engineers salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $98,260, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $72,910 a year, or $6,076 a month and $2,804 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for locomotive engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $98,260 buys what about $86,522 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Locomotive Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Dallas, TX$61,580
- Houston, TX$57,440
Highest-paying cities for locomotive engineers
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($98,260).
- Los Angeles, CA$98,260
- Dallas, TX$61,580
- Houston, TX$57,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Locomotive Engineers salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do locomotive engineers make an hour in Los Angeles?
$47.24 an hour on average, and $30.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level locomotive engineers salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the locomotive engineers take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $72,910 a year ($6,076 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,260. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do locomotive engineers earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($85,900).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-4011; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.03, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.03).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.