Freight Train Driver Salary in the United States

How much does a Freight Train Driver make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Freight Train Driver in the United States is $61,613 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Freight Train Driver's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,550
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,365 to $70,479
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,766
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $54,365 10% $47,766 90% $78,550 75% $70,479 $61,613 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Freight Train Driver Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $70,479 $5,873 $1,355 $34
Average $61,613 $5,134 $1,185 $30
25th Percentile $54,365 $4,530 $1,045 $26
Check out Freight Train Driver Job Openings in the United States
CDL

Lawrence Transportation - Columbus, OH

CDL

Hogan Transports - Fostoria, OH

CDL

Hogan Transports - Wickliffe, OH

CDL

Hogan Transports - Farmdale, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Freight Train Driver Salaries

A Freight Train Driver's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Freight Train Drivers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $77,713
  • San Francisco: $76,949
  • Oakland: $75,242

What Skills Can Increase a Freight Train Driver's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 3.27% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Illustrator (Mentioned in 3.53% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Originally designed for the Apple Macintosh, development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985. Along with Creative Cloud, Illustrator CC was released.
  • WordPress (Mentioned in 2.52% Job Postings): WordPress is a free and open-source content management system written in PHP and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database with supported HTTPS.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 3.27%
Illustrator 3.53%
WordPress 2.52%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Freight Train Driver's salary.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • InDesign: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
  • Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 0%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Time Management
 $62,846
2%
InDesign
 $62,230
1%
Attention to Detail
 $61,613
0%
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Freight Train Driver Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Freight Train Driver's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 18, 2021
$54,365
Average $61,613/year
$70,479
$4,530
Average $5,134/month
$5,873
$1,045
Average $1,185/week
$1,355
$26
Average $30/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $70,479 $5,873 $1,355 $34
Average $61,613 $5,134 $1,185 $30
25th Percentile $54,365 $4,530 $1,045 $26

Salaries of jobs related to Freight Train Driver

Salary Trends for Freight Train Driver

Salaries for a Freight Train Driver can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,646 in 2023 to around $50,328 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Freight Train Driver salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Freight Train Driver Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,646
2024
$50,894
2025
$50,328
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,646
2024 $50,894
2025 $50,328
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Freight Train Driver

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Freight Train Driver

Here are companies hiring for Freight Train Driver and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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