SOC 53-4011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Locomotive Engineers — West Virginia
West Virginia
Median pay for this occupation in West Virginia is $64,400 a year, trailing the national median of $81,410 by 20.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in West Virginia is $64,400 a year, trailing the national median of $81,410 by 20.9%. Half of workers earn between $64,380 and $74,840. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $62,880 and the ninetieth at $90,080.
The area has 340 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.23 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 35 states with published data for this occupation, West Virginia ranks 32nd by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 187th of 618 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,880 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $64,380 | −20.9% |
| Median (50th) | $64,400 | −20.9% |
| 75th | $74,840 | −8.1% |
| 90th | $90,080 | +10.6% |
| Mean | $67,970 | −16.5% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $64,400 goes as far as $71,955 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$64,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,955US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,400 a year, 20.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $62,880 to $90,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 32nd of 35 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Locomotive Engineers in West Virginia?
The median annual wage is $64,400, or $30.96 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 West Virginia is 20.9% 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 West Virginia earns more than $90,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $62,880 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 West Virginia. 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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