SOC 53-4011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Locomotive Engineers — North Carolina
North Carolina
In North Carolina the median wage is $61,190.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In North Carolina the median wage is $61,190. That is 24.8% lower than the national median of $81,410. Pay ranges from under $59,580 at the tenth percentile to more than $70,240 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $61,160 to $61,190.
Employment stands at 340, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. North Carolina ranks number 35th out of 35 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 745 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 304th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,580 | −26.8% |
| 25th | $61,160 | −24.9% |
| Median (50th) | $61,190 | −24.8% |
| 75th | $61,190 | −24.8% |
| 90th | $70,240 | −13.7% |
| Mean | $61,880 | −24.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $61,190 goes as far as $64,889 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 20.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,889US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,190 a year, 24.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,580 to $70,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 35 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Locomotive Engineers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $61,190, or $29.42 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 North Carolina is 24.8% lower. 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 North Carolina earns more than $70,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,580 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 340 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. 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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