how much does a train engineer make a year?

Answer 1

It is primarily seniority, class of service and location that determines a locomotive engineer's income.

Seniority will allow one to work a higher mileage run, in "pool" freight, resulting in a fatter pay check.

Class of service will determine a daily rate of pay. Generally, yard engines and locals have the higher rate of pay, with the latter job usually resulting in overtime, which is paid at a rate of time and 1/2. In addition, most locals or road switchers have six day work weeks.

Location, as another variable, will determine which jobs are available. Some seniority districts have few or no locals at all, few yard engines or none, or a "bridge" in the form of a relatively short run of perhaps 125 miles between adjoining districts with runs of 300 miles or more.

Class 1 railroads that are part of the collective bargaining process pay much higher wages than does a non-union short line. Factoring these jobs into the equation probably results in the low numbers that were generated by the Department of Labor.

A motivated individual, working out of a terminal with high mileage runs, with the seniority to hold them, can reach six figures quite handily. He is just never home to spend any of it.

Answer 2

The hogger has it. I have worked the 6 figure jobs and donated two wife's and a couple of houses chasing the dollar bill. I work a yard engine today make 60 to 68 depending how the year goes. And if I stay hooked up. I am not to good at that. Whats Her Name up top knows ;-)

Answer 3

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the average yearly salary in 2005 for railroad conductors and yardmasters was $57,200 and for locomotive engineers was $60,230.

Answer 4

usually they can make 70,000 a year, thats a 12 hour a day schedule....

Answer 5

It all depends on where and who you work for. $60,000 and up.

Answer 6

$120,000.00 LAST YEAR

Answer 7

48000