Loco Pilot(Railway Driver) Salary 2024 – In hand salary and Benefits

The average in-hand salary of a Railway Driver(Loco Pilot) in India is RS. 1.5 LPA along with various perks and benefits given to them. Indian Railway is one of the biggest government organizations which offers the most employment in India. Read the article below to learn more about Indian Railway driver salaries in India with perks and benefits given to them.

Loco Pilot Salary in India

Railway Driver Salary: The average initial salary of an Indian Railway Driver(Loco Pilot) is INR 1.5 LPA. With the in-hand salary, there are various perks and allowances allotted to them. The average salary of an Indian railway driver increases with experience and expertise. The total pay of a railway loco pilot working under the Indian Railway is INR 6 LPA while the average salary of the loco pilot of Hyderabad metro rail is INR 3 LPA.

Loco Pilot(Railway Driver) Salary 2024

Check the salary of the Indian Railway Loco Pilot in 2024 from the below table as per the 7th Pay Commission.

Loco Pilot Salary – Post Wise
Loco pilot profiles	Earlier monthly salary (INR)	Monthly Salary after 7th pay hike (INR)
Assistant loco pilot	13,000	25,000
Loco pilot (mail)	45,000	60,000
Loco pilot (goods)	22,000	40,000
Loco pilot (Passenger trains)	15,000	28,000
Shunting loco pilot	50,000	70,000

Loco Pilot Average Salary

The starting salary of the loco pilot is generally 1.5 lakh per year. The experienced loco pilot in India gets an average salary of INR 6 LPA. Based on experience and skill, the salary of a railway loco pilot increases with time. For reference, loco pilots having four years of experience can get up to 4 to 5 lakhs per year.

The loco pilot salary also depends upon educational qualifications. The starting average salary of loco pilots with ITI degrees is INR 1 lakh per annum whereas the salary of loco pilot with a B. Tech (Mechanical) degree is INR 4 LPA. The highest salary which a loco pilot with 8 to 10 years of experince can expect is 8-10 lakhs per annum.

Loco Pilot Salary Structure

The loco pilot salary structure consists of base pay, allowances, and extra benefits. We have mentioned the salary structure of loco pilot in below table.

Loco Pilot Salary Structure
RRB ALP salary	Pay in INR
Pay scale	20,500
Dearness Allowances	1,066
House rent allowances	2,132
Transport allowances	936
Night duty allowances	2,012
AR-T/ AL-C	36
KMA	13,707
Net deductions	3,032
Net Salary	37,714

Loco Pilot Salary Compensation

Ministry of Indian Railway provides various Monthly Allowances with various benefits. Here is the salary compensation of a loco pilot mentioned in below table.

Loco Pilot Salary Compensation
Allowances title	Monthly Allowances (INR)
Dearness allowance	1,066
House rent allowances	2,132
Transport allowances	936
Night duty allowances	2,012

Experience-Wise Loco Pilot Salary

Check the experince wise loco pilot salary from the table mentioned below.

Based on Experience	Average Annual Salary (in ₹)
0 – 3 Years	₹3,20,000
4 – 9 Years	₹4,90,000
10 – 20 Years	₹5,50,000

Loco Pilot Salary – Organisation Wise

The table outlined below presents the average salary of loco pilots based on different companies:

Name of the Company	Average Annual Salary (in ₹)
Unirail	₹0.20-5,00,000
Hyderabad Metro Rail	₹2,00,000-3,90,000
Indian Railways	₹2,40,000-22,00,000
Adani Ports and SEZ	₹7,30,000-30,10,000
South Central Railway	₹4,80,000-12,00,000
TATA Steel	₹2,00,000-3,10,000
Western Railway	₹3,20,000-15,00,000
Coromandel International	₹3,00,000-4,70,000
Indian Airforce	₹0.10-11,50,000
Ministry of Railways	₹4,00,000-6,00,000
Railway Recruitment Board Guwahati	₹2,20,000-17,30,000

Loco Pilot Salary and Job Profile

The loco pilot in Indian Railway got promotion and hikes based on year of expriences and technical skills. We have mentioned the Loco Pilot(Railway Driver) salary according to the job profile in the table below.

Loco Pilot Salary With Job Profile
Type of Loco Pilot	Salary (INR)			Job Description	Salary Description
	Average Salary	Junior Salary	Senior Salary
Senior Loco Pilot	50000	40000	70000	They are responsible for a variety of activities relating to signaling, maintaining appropriate loco operation, and aiding seniors with minor repairs while the loco is in operation.	They may earn up to Rs. 40 LPA on average. The starting salary of a Senior loco pilot is more than Rs. 5 LPA, rising to more than Rs. 8 LPA.
Assistant Loco Pilot	30000	20000	50000	They are in charge of giving out the signal, perfecting the loco, and doing routine maintenance on the loco. They are also responsible for providing information, ensuring the correct running of the loco, and aiding seniors with basic maintenance as needed while working.	Depending on experience, the entry-level income might be as high as 3 LPA, rising to more than 6 LPA.

Loco Pilot Salary – City Wise

Name of the City	Average Annual Salary (in ₹)
Kolkata	₹3,60,000
Visakhapatnam	₹3,30,000
Rourkela	₹2,80,000
Bhubaneswar	₹3,10,000
Hyderabad	₹5,00,000

Loco Pilot In Indian Railway

Loco Pilot in Railway is one the most reputed and attarctive government jobs in Indian Railway. Almost all railway aspirants dreamt to become a a rail drivers as the salary of a local pilot is very handsome. To become a loco pilot the Indian Railway, a candidate will need a certificate or diploma course in ITI. Candidates having BTech degree in mechanical engineering are the most desired way to become a loco pilot.

The average salary of candidates with having btech degree in mechanical engineering is 6 lakhs per annum. Even candidates having mattriculation degree and an ITI certification is eligble to appear for RRB ALP exam. Apart from academic degree, candidates will need to qualify for RRB ALP exam conducted by Indian Railway. Read this post to know more about Loco Pilot salary, eligblity, carrer growth and perks in detailed.

Locomotive pilots are highly skilled professionals well-versed in railway engines and their workings and machine learning. In India, locomotive pilots have diverse job profiles, including loco pilot (mail), assistant loco pilot, loco pilot (goods), shunting loco pilot, and loco pilot (passenger).

Work of Loco Pilot

A loco pilot or locomotive pilot is an expert responsible for operating, driving, and maintaining trains. They are responsible for inspecting, preparing reports, troubleshooting issues, and operating the train engines. Aspiring loco pilots start their careers as assistants. Then, after gathering work experience and necessary knowledge, they advance in their careers. A locomotive pilot follows every guideline, railway concept, and rules controlling the operation. Locomotive pilots are also responsible for looking after the safety of passengers as well as security during train operations.

Loco Pilot Eligibility Criteria

Candidates aspiring to be locomotive pilots must be between 18 and 28 years old. However, per government rules, there’s an age relaxation for reserved category applicants (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes/Persons with Disabilities/Ex-servicemen).

Also, the candidate must be an Indian, Nepalese, Bhutanese, or Tibetan refugee arriving in India before January 1, 1962, for permanent settlement. Medical tests are conducted to ensure that candidates who apply for the loco pilot position meet the necessary health standards, which include a hearing test and a vision test.

How to become Loco Pilot in Railway

Here is how aspiring locomotive pilots can pursue their dream of having a job in India’s railway sector:

Step 1: Complete 10+2 Board Examinations

Aspiring candidates should have cleared their Class XI or an equivalent course from a recognized board. They should secure at least 50% marks in English, Physics, Mathematics, Mechanics, Electronics, and Computers. They’ll begin their career as assistant locomotive pilots before becoming locomotive pilots.

After clearing the 10+2 board examinations, candidates should take the diploma engineering entrance examination, which covers several streams, such as electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, automobile engineering, or electrical engineering, to qualify for the locomotive pilot position.

Step 2: Diploma Degree

An aspiring candidate can also pursue a diploma or degree in railway engineering or an equivalent program. It’ll assist the candidate in understanding the job duties, rules, and regulations.

Step 3: Associate Degree

A candidate should also meet certain eligibility criteria based on the institution for which he/she is applying for the bachelor’s degree. Let us tell you that the application processes, as well as the selection criteria, vary based on the educational institution.

The RRB ALP (Railway Recruitment Board Assistant Locomotive Pilot) examination is conducted to hire candidates for the Indian Railways. Candidates must sit for the computer-based test (CBT 1 and CBT 2 Exam) and the computer-based aptitude test (CBAT) to be selected for the ALP position.

Step 4: ITI Programmes

Candidates should also complete an ITI (Industrial Training Institute) program from a rrecognizededucational institution accredited by the National Council for Vocational Training or a state council for vocational training.

Also, they may pursue engineering degrees from an AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) accredited institute with sspecializationin electronic, electrical, automotive, or mechanical engineering fields. The average salary of an ITI in India is between ₹1.2 lakhs to ₹4.8 lakhs annually.

Types of Loco Pilot

Listed below are the types of locomotive pilots in Indian Railway.

Locomotive Engineer

Locomotive engineers operate extensive railway services, transporting passengers and freight along designated routes. For every trip, locomotive engineers should be familiar with the freight, route, and schedule to ensure that the train operates smoothly and on time.

This profession requires candidates to work on weekends and nights. They monitor mmetersin brake lines, sensors, and primary underground aquifers that measure amperage, speed, air temperature, and voltage regulation.

Yardmaster

Yardmasters or railroad operators coordinate train activities on behalf of their oorgastic They facilitate the timely delivery and unloading of various items. A yardmaster’s job duties include completing rail-switching tasks promptly. Yardmasters guarantees that every freight and rail car reaches its intended destination on time. They actively monitor rail or train issues and proactively plan alternative routes.

Mechanical Engineers

A mechanical engineering career is a technical professional. The candidate should manage manufacturing products and oversee other technical staff. The mechanical engineer shall research, design, and develop equipment, devices, and other machine materials.

A mechanical engineer’s role involves researching, designing, and developing devices, equipment, and machine materials. They supervise the manufacturing of the products and look after the installation and maintenance of machinery systems or manufacturing.

Top Colleges to Pursue a Career as a Loco Pilot in India

Listed below are some of the top colleges in India that offer top-notch engineering courses:

Name of the University	Name of the City	NIRF Ranking 2024
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	Mumbai	4
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore	Bengaluru	2
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	New Delhi	3
Indian Institute of Technology Madras	Chennai	1
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Kharagpur	6
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur	Kanpur	5
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati	Guwahati	7
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee	Roorkee	8
University of Hyderabad	Hyderabad	10
University of Delhi	New Delhi	22

Conclusion

Railway drivers, known as loco pilots, enjoy an average starting salary of INR 1.5 LPA in India, with perks and benefits. Their earnings increase with experience, reaching an average of INR 6 LPA. It’s a coveted profession in Indian Railways, offering stability and career growth opportunities.

Loco Pilot(Railway Driver) Salary – FAQs

What is the starting salary of Loco Pilot in Indian Railways?

The staring salary of loco pilot ranges from Rs. 4 lakhs to Rs. 22.0 lakhs annually.

Is loco pilot job comes under group b or c?

The loco pilot in Indian Railway comes under group C.

Is loco pilot a good job?

On average, senior assistant loco pilots can make up to Rs. 40 lakhs a year. Nonetheless, when they first begin their careers, they make more than Rs. 5 lakhs a year.

Is RRB ALP exam tough?

RRB ALP exam is tough to moderate in nature as lakhs of students appear for the rrb alp exam.