SOC 53-4011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Locomotive Engineers — Illinois
Illinois
The median wage for Locomotive Engineers in Illinois is $93,320 per year, 14.6% above the national median of $81,410.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Locomotive Engineers in Illinois is $93,320 per year, 14.6% above the national median of $81,410. Half of workers earn between $84,470 and $97,280. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $76,190 and the ninetieth at $152,420.
Employment stands at 2,340, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Illinois ranks number 5th out of 35 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 166th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,190 | −6.4% |
| 25th | $84,470 | +3.8% |
| Median (50th) | $93,320 | +14.6% |
| 75th | $97,280 | +19.5% |
| 90th | $152,420 | +87.2% |
| Mean | $102,480 | +25.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $93,320 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$93,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$93,320US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $93,320 a year, 14.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $76,190 to $152,420 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,340 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 35 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Locomotive Engineers in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $93,320, or $44.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $81,410, so pay in Illinois is 14.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $152,420 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $76,190 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,340 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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