As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Railroad Engineer in Iowa is $76,447, equivalent to $37 per hour, $1,470 weekly, or $6,371 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Railroad Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Railroad Engineer in Iowa vary widely, spanning from $66,100 to $87,679. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($71,031) and 75th percentile ($82,326), while top earners (90th percentile) make $87,679 per year. This $11,295 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Commitment or Equipment Maintenance, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Iowa Railroad Engineer often earn 4.3% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 44 companies. However, Iowa currently ranks 33 nationwide for Railroad Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Railroad Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Railroad Engineer Salary $66,100 IA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Railroad Engineer Salary $71,031 IA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Railroad Engineer Salary $76,447 IA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Railroad Engineer Salary $82,326 IA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Railroad Engineer Salary $87,679 IA April 01, 2026
25% $71,031 10% $66,100 90% $87,679 75% $82,326 $76,447 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Railroad Engineer ?

An engineer (American and Canadian), engine driver, loco pilot, motorman, train driver (British and Commonwealth English), is a person who operates a train. The driver is in charge of, and responsible for driving the engine, as well as the mechanical operation of the train, train speed, and all train handling. For many American railroads, the following career progression is typical: assistant conductor (brakeman), conductor and finally driver. In the US, drivers are required to be certified and re-certified every two to three years. In American English a hostler moves engines around train y...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Ackley, IA Avg. Salary $82,979 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Ackworth, IA Avg. Salary $87,712 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adair, IA Avg. Salary $87,281 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adel, IA Avg. Salary $87,497 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Afton, IA Avg. Salary $87,281 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Agency, IA Avg. Salary $86,204 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Ainsworth, IA Avg. Salary $85,126 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Akron, IA Avg. Salary $79,970 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Albert City, IA Avg. Salary $79,917 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Albia, IA Avg. Salary $87,281 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Job Openings for Railroad Engineer in Iowa

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Railroad Engineer

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Civil Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

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