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.
33,470 people do this job in the US. $81,410 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 3%
- 1%
- 96%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 3%. Today's estimate: 3%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 15 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 22% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 22% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Observe tracks to detect obstructions.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 22% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 22% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 2% | 13 min4 min to 38 min | 99%Half by now | |
| Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 42 min17 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 38 min17 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 1% | 8 min3 min to 25 min | Stays with people | |
| Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.Done daily by most who do it. | 1% | 25 min13 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Monitor train loading procedures to ensure that freight or rolling stock are loaded or unloaded without damage.Done daily by most who do it. | 1% | 50 min17 min to 2.1 h | Stays with people | |
| Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 1% | 50 min13 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 0.6% | 33 min13 min to 1.3 h | 99%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers7% now, 7% by 2028
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters32% now, 33% by 2028
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers12% now, 12% by 2028
- Subway and Streetcar Operators4% now, 4% by 2028
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists0% now, 0% by 2028
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation13% now, 28% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).