The average salary for a locomotive engineer in Iowa is around $89,970 per year.
Avg Salary
Locomotive engineers earn an average yearly salary of $89,970.
Wages typically start from $74,770 and go up to $95,710.
26% above national average Updated in 2025
Locomotive engineer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level locomotive engineer earnings begin at:
$46.02 per hour
$95,710 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level locomotive engineer earnings begin at:
$44.31 per hour
$92,170 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level locomotive engineer earnings begin at:
$43.25 per hour
$89,970 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level locomotive engineer earnings begin at:
$35.99 per hour
$74,850 per year
10th percentile
Starting level locomotive engineer earnings begin at:
$35.95 per hour
$74,770 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Locomotive engineer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $96,710 |
| Minnesota | $93,700 |
| Illinois | $93,320 |
| Indiana | $92,790 |
| Florida | $92,310 |
| Oklahoma | $91,970 |
| Virginia | $90,780 |
| Montana | $90,220 |
| Iowa | $89,970 |
| Arizona | $89,840 |
| Colorado | $89,360 |
| South Carolina | $89,290 |
| New Mexico | $88,330 |
| New Jersey | $86,550 |
| Delaware | $84,870 |
| Wisconsin | $84,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,460 |
| Tennessee | $81,410 |
| Oregon | $79,130 |
| Texas | $79,000 |
| Arkansas | $78,930 |
| Wyoming | $78,910 |
| Missouri | $78,820 |
| Kentucky | $77,620 |
| Alabama | $77,600 |
| California | $77,070 |
| Kansas | $75,190 |
| Washington | $73,750 |
| New Hampshire | $70,670 |
| South Dakota | $69,180 |
| Maryland | $65,060 |
| West Virginia | $64,400 |
| Louisiana | $64,200 |
| Ohio | $63,280 |
| Maine | $63,100 |
| Nebraska | $62,100 |
| North Carolina | $61,190 |
| Michigan | $61,070 |
| Idaho | $59,510 |
| Nevada | $58,250 |
| Utah | $55,960 |
| Georgia | $55,400 |
| New York | $109,220 |
| Massachusetts | $108,790 |
How do locomotive engineer salaries compare to similar careers?
Locomotive engineers earn 6% more than similar careers in Iowa. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than aircraft mechanics.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $91K |
| Shipmate salary | $98K |
| Ship captain salary | $98K |
| Customs broker salary | $80K |
| Geodesist salary | $77K |
| Locomotive engineer salary | $90K |
| Logistician salary | $79K |
| Industrial engineering technician salary | $64K |
| Power engineer salary | $67K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $70K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)