Career Explorer Transport and logistics
Human edge, steady
Locomotive engineers
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 59% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +0.5% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $81,410
- Job growth to 2035
- +0.5%
- Openings a year
- 2,000
- People doing it (2025)
- 27,400
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate transportation equipment or vehicles
- Monitor resources or inventories
- Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance
What the work looks like
- Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.
- Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
- Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
- Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
- Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlersHuman edge, steady, Index 64, +0.8%
- Tank car, truck, and ship loadersHuman edge, steady, Index 90, +2.8%
- Crane and tower operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 93, +3.8%
- Pump operators, except wellhead pumpersHuman edge, growing, Index 79, +4.3%
Also known as: Engineer, Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Railroad Engineer, Trainmaster, Steam Locomotive Engineer, Steam Locomotive Fireman, Through Freight Engineer, Train Engineer.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.