Locomotive Engineers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 1,630 Locomotive Engineers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
1,630
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
1.63
workers
Location Quotient
2.23
vs national avg
Average Salary
$68K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 2.23 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Locomotive Engineers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
1,630
National: 26,340
6.2% of national
Jobs per 1,000
1.63
National: 0.73
+123.3%
Average Salary
$68K
National: $75K
-8.8%

Top States by Locomotive Engineers Employment

#1
4,000
4,000
employed
#2
1,660
1,660
employed
#3
1,630
1,630
employed
#4
1,200
1,200
employed
#5
1,050
1,050
employed
#6
1,000
1,000
employed
#7
980
980
employed
#8
960
960
employed
#9
950
950
employed
#10
860
860
employed

What Does a Locomotive Engineers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Locomotive Engineers in California is $68,880. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Find Your Next Opportunity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Locomotive Engineers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 1,630 Locomotive Engineers professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Locomotive Engineers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Locomotive Engineers jobs (LQ: 2.23). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Locomotive Engineers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Locomotive Engineers in California is $68880/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Locomotive Engineers professionals?

The top state for Locomotive Engineers employment is Texas with 4,000 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Locomotive Engineers (SOC 534011) in California.

Explore More in California

Related Analysis
Locomotive Engineers Salary After-Tax Take-Home Pay Cost of Living Adjusted Entry-Level vs Senior Salary Hourly Wage Employment Outlook
Rankings
Highest Paying Jobs Jobs Over $100K Average Salary All Jobs in California Career Progression Hourly Wages Employment Outlook