Loco Pilot Salary 2025: In-Hand Pay, Grade Pay, Allowances, and Career Scope
Loco Pilot SalaryTo become a Railway Loco Pilot, the minimum qualification required is a passing mark in Class 10th, along with additional qualifications such as a 10+2 board certificate, an ITI course, a Diploma degree, or Training and Engineering Courses. ₹19,900 might be the initial salary for a Railway Loco Pilot in India in a month. In this context, this blog guides the aspiring candidates who wish to find a detailed guide about the salary and qualifications, and other details regarding the Loco Pilot of India.
Loco Pilot Qualification
The least educational requirement for becoming a Loco Pilot is that the candidates must pass the Class 10th board exams of a reputed board. The other details of the qualification are:
- 10+2 Board: Candidates can initially become an assistant Loco Pilot after having a certificate of matriculation. Moreover, having Science and Maths as the main subjects and passing the 10+2 board exams can be a benefit to them.
- ITI course: Vocational courses might be taken by the interested candidates. They may also pursue a course in ITI approved by NCVT or SCVT or any other course in engineering diploma.
- Diploma degree: Another option available to candidates is diploma in railway engineering or other related disciplines, which could be used in understanding regulations, rules and main responsibilities of the job.
- Training: Majority of the institutions including the government-initiated institutions like; ITI, train the people willing to become Loco Pilots accordingly. The training will assist applicants to develop an effective strategy for fault rectification as well as operating train engines towards the security and safety of passengers.
- Courses in Engineering: It is desirable to have an Engineering degree and major in mechanical engineering.
Mechanical engineering course levels | Qualification |
B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering | Passing minimum marks is 50 to 60% depending upon the college and the universities however, with Science Group in Class 12 and with Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics being the important subjects |
M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering |
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Diploma in Mechanical Engineering |
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PhD in Mechanical Engineering | Completed M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or related area with a minimum of 55% marks and cleared the entrance exam |
Average salary of a Railway Loco Pilot in India
The monthly salary of a loco pilot (Railway Driver) grows with experience and abilities that increase from a low range to a high range.
Factors | Salary |
Starting salary of a Loco Pilot in India per month | ₹19,900 |
Monthly salary with skills, experience and abilities of a Loco Pilot | ₹1,09,000 |
Greatest salary of a Loco Pilot | ₹15,00,000 per year |
Job Viewpoint for Railway Loco Pilots
Most firms recruit loco pilot assistants in terms of the Group C personnel, whose particular details are:
- Eligibility of the candidates lies between 18 to 28 years as the age range.
- To be qualified, candidates should appear for the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) admission examination.
- After sufficient experience, the Loco Pilots can advance to reach greater positions like Crew Controller, Loco Supervisor and Power Controller.
Steps to become a Loco Pilot in the Indian Railways in 2025?
This process includes four stages:
- Completion of Class 12th from a recognized board
- Getting a Diploma qualification within a relevant technical area
- Application for an associate degree program
- Completing an ITI course from a recognized vocational institute
Loco Pilot Job Profile in 2025 in India
The table below highlights different job profiles and the yearly salary of a Loco Pilot that help candidates know the salary of the types of Loco Pilot in terms of average, junior and senior positions.
Loco Pilot types | Average salary (₹) | Junior salary (₹) | Senior salary (₹) | Job description | Salary description |
Senior Loco Pilot | 50,000 | 40,000 | 70,000 | Duties involve management of signals, to ensure smooth locomotive operations, and helping the senior staff with minor repairs in the time of service. | On average, they might get a salary around ₹40,00,000 in a year with an initial salary of more than ₹5,00,000 in year, that can rise to more than ₹8,00,000 annually |
Assistant Loco Pilot | 30,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 | Duties in terms of signal communication, carrying out the routine checks and maintaining locomotives. Moreover, they must provide the required information for supporting safe operations, and help senisors in basic upkeep whenever they are required. | Depending on experience, entry-level salary can be as higher as ₹3,00,000 per year, that can increase to ₹6,00,000 or more in a year. |
The average yearly salary of Loco Pilots provided by the companies in 2024 was:
Company name | Average yearly salary (₹) |
Unirail | 0.20-5,00,000 |
Indian Railways | 2,40,000-22,00,000 |
Hyderabad Metro Rail | 2,00,000-3,90,000 |
Adani Ports and SEZ | 7,30,000-30,10,000 |
Western Railway | 3,20,000-15,00,000 |
South Central Railway | 4,80,000-12,00,000 |
TATA Steel | 2,00,000-3,10,000 |
Coromandel International | 3,00,000-4,70,000 |
Ministry of Railways | 4,00,000-6,00,000 |
Indian Airforce | 0.10-11,50,000 |
Railway Recruitment Board, Guwahati | 2,20,000-17,30,000 |
Loco Pilot Salary FAQs
Ques: What is the salary of a Loco Pilot in India on average?
Ans: The average monthly salary of Loco Pilots in India is around ₹44,923. For a Loco Pilot of India, the average additional cash compensation is ₹1,752 with a range of ₹1,734 to ₹57,156. They also have a stable career growth, significant respect, and government benefits because of their critical responsibilities in the railway.
Ques: A Loco Pilot requires which ITI trade?
Ans: After finishing their Class 10th or 12th or any matriculation degree, Loco Pilots can pursue ITI trades in fitter, electronics, wireman, mechanist, mechanic, air conditioning mechanic, radio & TV/refrigeration, etc. Moreover, they can carry out rigorous fitness tests, apprenticeships, and technical training prior to qualifying for recruitment by Indian Railways.
Ques: What is the salary of a Loco Pilot?
Ans: In the normal Indian Railways, locomotive pilots get a pay that might be within the range of 25,000 to 90,000 in a month. Furthermore, they get benefits such as dearness allowance, travel concessions, pension schemes, medical facilities, overtime pay and housing allowances that improve their overall compensation along with job security.
Ques: Is Loco Pilot considered a good job?
Ans: The railway system of India is dependent on Loco Pilots, who engage in taking the duty to keep train engines within upkeep as well as in good working condition. Being in the public sector, the loco Pilots get huge job opportunities and also get good returns in terms of their remuneration.
Ques: What is the qualification for becoming a Loco Pilot?
Ans: For being a Loco Pilot in India, the interested candidates should have completed their secondary education, that is in Class 10th and have a relevant diploma or Industrial Training Institute (ITI) certificate. Moreover, they need to clear the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exam for the Assistant Loco Pilot position.