I would like to know how much money does a train driver make?

Question

I would like to know how much money does a train driver make?

Answer 1

It depends on the engineer's seniority.  Not all jobs, or "runs", pay the same.  The higher paying jobs are usually held by those with the most seniority.

There are other "arbitraries" that generate pay as well as miles of railroad covered.  This would include overtime, initial terminal delay, final terminal delay, held away from home terminal (HAHT), meal and lodging allowances, used off of regular assignment and others.

Class of service is another determining factor.  Pool freight, local freight, helper service, yard assignment, work train, snow service, road switchers, mountain districts, etc., all have different basic rates of pay.  Further, the local freight and yard assignments are broken into two sub-classes, five day a week and six day a week service.  All of  these then are broken down further, with rates that include working with a fireman or without a fireman.  (Note:  Fireman is an archaic term, but still used.  A better description would be "student engineer").

If a person really wanted to go after it, $100,000 (or more) is within reach, even with seniority in the "middle" of the seniority roster.  It comes down to, how much work can you handle?  The company will be happy to beat you black and blue with $100 bills, for as long as you can stand it.

Lest one believes the craft is overpaid, there is a major trade off for all of this "long green" pouring into your bank account.  No time at home, missed school pageants, plays, recitals, birthdays, holidays, chronic fatigue, no sleep (or irregular sleep), heat, cold, hunger, awesome responsibility and a divorce rate that is roughly four times the national average.  It is a very dangerous occupation, as well, where a mistake can cost you or someone else their lives, or litterally blow a town off the map.  In short, it is a hard way to make an easy living.

It takes a special breed of cat to serve.  Having "brass ones" helps too.  Sitting down behind the throttle on the point of 14,000 tons of steel and lading (on roller bearings), heading down a 2.2% grade, can put some people off.  For an engineer, it's just another day at the office.

Answer 2

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layou...

Answer 3

trains don't have drivers, they have engineers.  It takes a degree to even be considered for the job.

The median expected salary for a typical Railroad Worker in the United States is $36,722.

Answer 4

I like what HOGHEAD said, it is so true.  I work for a Class I railroad but I am clerk that sits behind a computer all night and do a lot of the computer work for the terminal I work at and I make a little over $19 a hour but just like engineers and conductors different jobs pay different rates.  Just in my terminal their is five different pay rates and there is only about 20 people left.

Answer 5

Depends on Short Line or Class 1 railroad.  Class one over the road is paid by the mile and yard is paid by the hour.  I can tell you that for the DGNO Railroad in Dallas you are paid by the the no matter what and you make as an engineer, at least 18.46.  As a conductor its 17.46

Answer 6

me, too!

Answer 7

My dad works as a locomotive engineer for BNSF he gets paid about 130k a year and almost 400 a day

Answer 8

80,000 yr

Answer 9

I would have to say that "hoghead" is the closet out of all of the answers! As a BNSF conductor I see most of the guys are bringing home about $5,200 for two weeks (this is on the road only, yard pay is a whole lot less) You are paid by the mile.For us out here in CA, we go from Richmond to Fresno, 194 miles, pays about $300 one way. We also have a run from Oakland to Stockton, via UP Railroad that pays 174 mile but is a short pool and we are vaned home most of the time and paid 307mile, about $425 round trip. Great money for only working (if you can call it work) 6 to 8 hrs on duty....

Answer 10

My husband is a train driver (engineer) and he makes 19.00 an hour and always get overtime at time and a half. He works on a tiny railroad and the pay isn't even close to what the other railroads make but he is home every day. He is on call 24/7 364 days a year. Misses everything and it is really hard on a marriage to not be able to depend on help from a spouse. Guess that went beyond the question but there ya go.

Answer 11

Well here is your answer:

  Locomotive Engineers (aka.. Train Drivers) are paid according to the miles of rail travelled. Top salaries for a Locomotive Engineer range from $75,000 - $80,000 per year in Canadian Dollars, or about $67,000.00 - $72,000.00 US Dollars.

  

Wow I'm Changing careers!

Answer 12

I'm not really sure what it is today,but a few years ago i knew a guy who drove one,,and he made 18 bucks an hour,,and this has been about 5 yrs ago,,so i would imagine it is higher now,,and all he done was drive it,,or more less control it,,he was told never to leave the engine area,,i hope this helps.