Arkansas Median
$78,930
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.95
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $81,410
State Rank
#22 of 35
620 employed here
How much does a Locomotive Engineer make in Arkansas?
Locomotive Engineers in Arkansas take home a median of $78,930 annually — roughly $37.95 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $81,410.
Within Arkansas, entry-level pay starts around $65,050 while the top 10% make $78,930 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $66,450 and $78,930 a year.
Locomotive Engineer salary range in Arkansas
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,050 | $31.27 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $66,450 | $31.95 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,930 | $37.95 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $78,930 | $37.95 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,930 | $37.95 |
|
How Arkansas compares
Arkansas ranks 22nd out of 35 states and territories for Locomotive Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Locomotive Engineer salary in other states
New York $109,220Massachusetts $108,790Mississippi $96,710Minnesota $93,700Illinois $93,320Indiana $92,790Florida $92,310Oklahoma $91,970Virginia $90,780Montana $90,220Iowa $89,970Arizona $89,840Colorado $89,360South Carolina $89,290New Mexico $88,330New Jersey $86,550Wisconsin $84,550Pennsylvania $82,460Tennessee $81,410Oregon $79,130Texas $79,000Wyoming $78,910Missouri $78,820Kentucky $77,620Alabama $77,600California $77,070Kansas $75,190Washington $73,750New Hampshire $70,670South Dakota $69,180West Virginia $64,400Louisiana $64,200Ohio $63,280North Carolina $61,190
Working as a Locomotive Engineer in Arkansas
Nationally, about 33,000 people work as Locomotive Engineers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Arkansas pay ($78,930) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Locomotive Engineer make in Arkansas?
The median Locomotive Engineer salary in Arkansas is $78,930 per year, or about $37.95 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $65,050 at the entry level to $78,930 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Arkansas pay compare to the national average?
Arkansas pays Locomotive Engineers about 3% less than the national median of $81,410. Arkansas ranks 22nd out of 35 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Arkansas a good state for Locomotive Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $78,930 a year. About 620 Locomotive Engineers are employed in Arkansas. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Arkansas?
The highest-paying occupations in Arkansas include Dermatologist ($422,060), Neurologist ($317,880), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($262,470), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Locomotive Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.