Career Paths From Locomotive Engineers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersLateral Move94.6% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$68,840
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Distributors and DispatchersCareer Change90.5% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Power Distributors and Dispatchers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Power Distributors and Dispatchers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 31% higher.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$106,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Commercial PilotsAdvancement96.2% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Commercial Pilots share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Commercial Pilots is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 51% higher.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$123,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersCareer Change92.7% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 19% higher.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$96,710
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersCareer Change95.7% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$48,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Tire BuildersCareer Change93.4% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Tire Builders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Tire Builders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 30% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$57,390
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersCareer Change92.6% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$58,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Plant and System OperatorsCareer Change90.8% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Chemical Plant and System Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Chemical Plant and System Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$78,120
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersCareer Change93.2% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 40% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$48,570
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar WorkersCareer Change90.3% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$58,970
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Food BatchmakersCareer Change91.6% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Food Batchmakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Food Batchmakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 48% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$42,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallCareer Change90.6% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 40% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$49,120
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersAdvancement93.3% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 2). Median salary is about 185% higher.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$232,140
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
4
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandLateral Move90.6% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 51% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$40,240
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Conveyor Operators and TendersLateral Move91.6% skill match
Locomotive Engineers and Conveyor Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Conveyor Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 48% lower.
Current median salary
$81,410
Target median salary
$42,420
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.