USA Career Guide- Train Engineers and Operators
Education & Training of Train Engineers and Operators
The bare bones educational requirement is to have a high school degree.
Training
Locomotive engineers generally receive 2 to 3 months of on-the-job training before they can operate a train on their own. Typically, this training involves riding with an experienced engineer who teaches them the nuances of that particular train route.
In addition, railroad companies provide continuing education so that engineers can maintain their skills.
License
Rail yard engineers drive large vehicles around the yard and must have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). The qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both knowledge and a driving test. For more information about getting a CDL, contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association.
Locomotive engineers must be certified by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The certification, conducted by the railroad that employs them, involves a written knowledge test, a skills test, and a supervisor determining that the engineer understands all physical aspects of the particular route on which he or she will be operating.
Pay of Train Engineers and Operators
The median annual wage of train engineers and operators was $46,100 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,000 and the top 10 percent earned more than $71,350.
Median wages for train engineer and operator occupations in May 2010 were as follows:
$47,670 for brake, signal, and switch operators
$46,630 for locomotive engineers
$43,510 for locomotive firers
$35,480 for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition
Job Prospects of Train Engineers and Operators
Employment of train engineers and operators is projected to experience little or no change, growing 1 percent from 2010 to 2020.
Employment of locomotive engineers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.
Job opportunities should be favorable for these occupations. Although many workers stay in these occupations for a long time, currently more workers are nearing retirement than is the case in most occupations. When these workers begin to retire, many jobs should become available.
Industrial Overview of Train Engineers and Operators
Train engineers and operators held about 67,100 jobs in 2010.
Nearly all locomotive engineers and brake, signal, and switch operators work in the rail transportation industry. Rail yard engineers work in both rail transportation and support activities for rail.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition
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