Most people are hired and trained on the job, so school is optional. A program can still help you stand out.
High school diploma or equivalent (a program is optional for this job)
Less than 5 years of experience in a related job
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Work as a locomotive engineer
Programs that lead to this job
These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this
occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding
credentials in each.
How long does it take to become a locomotive engineer?
Typically no schooling after high school, then a few months to a year of training on the job, then less than 5 years of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do locomotive engineers make?
The US median is $81,410 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a locomotive engineer?
No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.
Where can you train to become a locomotive engineer?
1 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →
Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work,
your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education
requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.
Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment
Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018).
School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.