Loco Pilot Salary in India: There would be no railway system in India without loco pilots. How much they get paid depends on their experience, skills, and where they work. Advances to Senior Assistant Loco Pilot and Loco Pilot are possible by direct recruiting from the job of Assistant Loco Pilot. In India, a loco pilot may expect to earn a starting salary of INR 19,900 per month. Loco Pilots start off making about INR 900,000 per month, but it may go to 1.09 million with experience and new skills. The maximum salary for a loco pilot is INR 15 LPA at this time.
Loco pilot assistants are often hired as Group C staff by most companies. Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 28 to be considered for the position of Assistant Loco Pilot. For those who meet the requirements, RBB administers an entrance test. Power Controller, Crew Controller, and Loco Supervisor are the next steps up for the Loco Pilot after many years of work.
Locomotive pilots are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of trains and their upkeep throughout transit. The Indian Railways consider this a senior position.
Salary, benefits, and advancement prospects for Loco Pilots are discussed in detail in this blog.
Loco Pilot In-Hand Salary 2025
Candidates get a normal wage scale of Rs. 19,900/-. Among their many entitlements are the Dearness Allowance, the Travel Allowance, and others. Their monthly take-home pay is the sum of this plus all the other allowances. Loco pilots may expect to earn a monthly income of around Rs. 35,000/-in 2024. With this all-inclusive package, candidates are assured competitive and satisfactory remuneration.
Qualifications for a Loco Pilot (Railway Driver) in India
To become a Loco Pilot, candidates need specific qualifications. The table below provides details:
| Course Name | Provided By | Average Fees (INR) | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
| Engineering Diplomas | A.P.C. Ray Polytechnic Kolkata, Aligarh Muslim University, etc. | 10k – 5 LPA | 7 lakh |
| Apprenticeship Course | NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) | 15k – 1.50 LPA | 1.5 lakh |
| ITI Program | ACMT ITI College, Government Industrial Training Institute, etc. | 1k – 9k | 1.8 lakh |
Loco Pilot (Railway Driver) Duties
Loco Pilots are responsible for:
- Ensuring safety during unforeseen situations.
- Controlling train movement based on time and speed.
- Maintaining speed guidelines.
- Inspecting electrical couplings.
- Checking engine cleanliness at stations.
Salary Structure 2025
The salary structure of a Loco Pilot consists of base pay, allowances, and extra benefits:
| RRB ALP Salary Components | Pay in INR |
| Pay scale | 20,500 |
| Dearness Allowance | 1,066 |
| House Rent Allowance | 2,132 |
| Transport Allowance | 936 |
| Night Duty Allowance | 2,012 |
| AR-T/ AL-C | 36 |
| KMA | 13,707 |
| Net Deductions | 3,032 |
| Net Salary | 37,714 |
Loco Pilot Salary Compensation 2025
| Allowances Title | Monthly Allowances (INR) |
| Dearness Allowance | 1,066 |
| House Rent Allowance | 2,132 |
| Transport Allowance | 936 |
| Night Duty Allowance | 2,012 |
Loco Pilot Salary (Railway Driver) Post-Wise Salary
| Posts | Salary Range (INR) |
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | 25,000 – 35,000 |
| Loco Pilot (Goods) | 40,000 – 56,000 |
| Loco Pilot (Mail) | 60,000 – 78,000 |
| Shunting Loco Pilot | 28,000 – 38,000 |
| Loco Pilot Passenger | 50,000 – 66,000 |
| Loco Pilot (High Speed) | 77,000 – 88,000 |
Loco Pilot Salary After 7th Pay Commission
| Allowances | Amount | Recoveries | Amount |
| Pay | 5,830 | NPS | 1,848 |
| Grade Pay | 1,900 | Income Tax | 0 |
| HRA | 1,005 | – | – |
| DA | 10,752 | – | – |
| TPA | 828 | – | – |
| NDA | 387 | – | – |
| Running Allowance | 6,050 | – | – |
| Gross Pay | 26,752 | Deductions | 1,848 |
| Net Pay | 24,904 | – | – |
Loco Pilot Salary Organization Wise
| Name of the Company | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
| 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 |
Loco Pilot Salary Experience Wise
| Years of Experience | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
| 0-2 years | 2.40 lakh |
| 2-5 years | 7.60 lakh |
| 5-10 years | 6 lakh |
| 10-15 years | 9 lakh |
| 15+ years | 12 lakh and above |
Loco Pilot Allowances & Benefits
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- Transport Allowance
- Free Medical Facilities
- Running Allowance (based on kilometers traveled)
- Free Railway Tickets for Family Members
- Gratuity and Pension Benefits
How to Become a Loco Pilot in India?
- Complete 10+2 with at least 50% marks in Physics, Mathematics, and Mechanics.
- Diploma Degree in Railway Engineering or a relevant stream.
- Apply for Associate Degree and clear the RRB ALP Exam.
- ITI Programs from a recognized institution.
Top Colleges for Engineering Courses
| Name of the University | City | NIRF Ranking 2024 |
| IIT Bombay | Mumbai | 4 |
| IISc Bangalore | Bengaluru | 2 |
| IIT Delhi | New Delhi | 3 |
| IIT Madras | Chennai | 1 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | 6 |
Work Environment of a Loco Pilot
Loco pilots often work night shifts and put in 10 to 12 hours a day. To ensure everything goes well during shift changes, they must be on duty two hours beforehand.
FAQs
- What is the monthly salary of a Loco Pilot?
Additional monetary compensation might range from 1,734 to 57,156 rupees, with an average monthly wage of 44,923 rupees.
- Is Loco Pilot a good career?
Affirmative, loco pilots have secure employment in the public sector, together with competitive pay and benefits.
- Can a 12th pass apply for Loco Pilot?
Yes, to be considered, applicants must pass an admission test for a diploma in engineering program.