Locomotive Engineers pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,960 or more. The middle half of locomotive engineers in Houston earn between $50,130 and $58,260.
- $48K10th
- $50K25th
- $57KMedian
- $58K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,440 | $4,787 | $27.62 |
| Median | $57,140 | $4,762 | $27.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,130 | $4,178 | $24.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,260 | $4,855 | $28.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Locomotive Engineers pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Locomotive engineers in Houston earn 22% less than the Texas average ($73,530) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($85,900). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $81,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $57,440 | $57,140 | $48,000 | $72,960 | 100 |
| Texas | $73,530 | $79,000 | $58,700 | $79,310 | 3,780 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $57,440, a single filer in Houston takes home about $48,333 a year, or $4,028 a month and $1,859 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for locomotive engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $57,440 buys what about $58,238 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Locomotive Engineers salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 2nd of 2 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($61,580).
- Dallas$61,580
- Houston$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
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Locomotive Engineers salary in Houston: questions
How much do locomotive engineers make an hour in Houston?
$27.62 an hour on average, and $27.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level locomotive engineers salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the locomotive engineers take-home pay in Houston?
About $48,333 a year ($4,028 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,440. Texas has no state income tax.
Do locomotive engineers earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.14, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.14).
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