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Home > Articles > Loco Pilot Salary (Railway Driver) 2024 in India: In-Hand Salary, 7th Pay Commission, Base Pay Scale, Post Wise and Allowances
Updated on 18th June, 2024 , 9 min read
Loco Pilots are in charge of engines, passenger trains, and commuter trains. They depict railway instructions, markers, and rules guiding locomotive operation. Direct recruitment is for the position of Assistant Loco Pilot, which is subsequently advanced to Senior Assistant Loco Pilot and then to Loco Pilot. A Loco Pilot's initial monthly wage in India starts at INR 19,900. However, with experience and updated abilities, a Loco Pilot's monthly income might reach INR 1.09 lakhs. So far, the highest Loco Pilot pay is INR 15 LPA.
Most firms hire loco pilot assistants as Group C personnel. To become an Assistant Loco Pilot, a candidate must be between 18 and 28 years old. RBB conducts an admission exam for qualified individuals. After many years of service, the Loco Pilot is promoted to Power Controller, Crew Controller, and Loco Supervisor.Who are the Loco Pilots (Railway Driver)?
A loco pilot is in charge of running trains and ensuring that they are maintained efficiently and effectively throughout transportation. It is a senior job in the Indian Railways. The eligibility criteria for recruitment as an Assistant Loco Pilot are detailed further below (ALP).
The fundamental eligibility requirements for becoming a Loco Pilot are outlined below-
The standard salary scale of Rs. 19,900/-is provided to candidates. The Dearness Allowance, Travel Allowance, and other allowances are among the many to which they are entitled. Combing the other allowances, it constitutes their monthly in-hand salary. In 2024, the monthly Loco Pilot salary ranges from around Rs. 35,000/-. Candidates are guaranteed competitive and fulfilling compensation with this all-inclusive package.
The fundamental qualities required to become a Loco Pilot are listed below-
Course Name | Provided By | Average Fees (INR) | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
Engineering Diplomas | Department of Automobile Engineering, 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 in Delhi, Government Industrial Training Institute, etc. | 1k - 9k | 1.8 lakh |
A loco pilot's key tasks are as follows-
The salary structure of a Loco Pilot consists of base pay, allowances, and extra benefits. The table below shows the 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 |
There are monthly allowances and other benefits provided by the Ministry of Indian Railway to Loco Pilot. The table below shows the 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 |
The table below shows the Loco pilot salary 2024 post wise:
Posts | Salary Range |
Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 35,000/- |
Loco Pilot (Goods) | Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 56,000/- |
Loco Pilot (Mail) | Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 78,000/- |
Shunting Loco Pilot | Rs. 28,000 to Rs. 38,000/- |
Loco Pilot Passenger (Passenger) | Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 66,000/- |
Loco Pilot (High Speed) | Rs. 77,000 to Rs. 88,000/- |
Senior Section Engineer | Rs. 17,140/- |
Traffic Apprentice | Rs. 13,500/- |
Technician Grade 3 | Rs. 7,730/- |
Technician Grade 2 | Rs. 9,910/- |
Candidates intending to join the railway sector in 2024 must apply for the RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) position after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. The table below shows a detailed analysis of the main components of the ALP salary, including allowances and deductions:
Allowances | Amount | Recoveries | Amount |
Pay | Rs. 5,830/- | NPS | Rs. 1,848/- |
Grade Pay | Rs. 1,900/- | Income Tax | Rs. 0 |
HRA | Rs. 1,005/- | – | – |
DA | Rs. 10,752/- | – | – |
TPA | Rs. 828/- | – | – |
NDA | Rs. 387/- | – | – |
Running Allowance | Rs. 6,050/- | – | – |
Gross Pay | Rs. 26,752/- | Deductions | Rs. 1,848/- |
Total Deduction | Rs. 1,848/- | – | – |
Net Pay | Rs. 24,904/- | – | – |
The table below shows the average Loco Pilot Salary 2024 based on the company:
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 |
The table below shows the Loco Pilot Salary 2024 based on the city:
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 |
The following table shows the years of experience with the average annual salary-
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 and above | 12 lakh and above |
Aspiring applicants should have completed their Class XI or equivalent course from a recognized board. They must obtain at least 50% marks in english, physics, mathematics, mechanics, electronics, and computers. Before becoming locomotive pilots, they will first work as assistants.
To qualify for the locomotive pilot post, candidates must first pass the diploma engineering entrance test after clearing 10+2. The entrance covers streams such as electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, automobile engineering, and electrical engineering.
The aspiring candidates can apply for a diploma degree in railway engineering or any relevant stream. This will help the candidate understand the duties, responsibilities, rules, and regulations.
A candidate must also meet various eligibility requirements, depending on the college to which he or she is applying for a bachelor's degree. Let us remind you that the application processes and selection criteria differ depending on the educational institution.
The RRB ALP (Railway Recruitment Board Assistant Locomotive Pilot) exam is held to recruit candidates for the Indian Railways. To be considered for the ALP post, candidates must complete the computer-based tests (CBT 1 and CBT 2 Exam) as well as the computer-based aptitude exam (CBAT).
Candidates must also complete an ITI (Industrial Training Institute) program at a recognized educational institution approved by the National Council for Vocational Training or a state council for vocational training.
They may also pursue engineering degrees from an AICTE-accredited college specializing in electronic, electrical, automotive, or mechanical engineering. In India, the average salary for an ITI ranges from ₹1.2 lakhs to ₹4.8 lakh.
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The following table shows the various job profiles and the annual salary 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. |
The Loco Pilots under the purview of the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) enjoy a comprehensive set of allowances and perks, contributing to an appealing overall compensation package. Here, we detail the primary allowances and benefits available to Loco Pilots in the year 2024:
House Rent Allowance (HRA): Loco pilots are entitled to House Rent Allowance, which aids in covering accommodation costs based on their posting location.
The following list shows the skills required to become a loco pilot are as follows-
The table below shows the top colleges in India with their NIRF ranking for 2024. Candidates can study engineering courses in these colleges:
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 |
Typically, a loco pilot operates aboard the train. They labor ten to twelve hours every day. A loco pilot must notify the company two hours before leaving work so that another loco pilot may join the train on time at the designated spot. Loco pilots also fly night shifts, making it difficult for them to maintain a work-life balance.
Pilot Salary in India 2024: Starting Salary, Requirements, Qualifications, Per Month Salary
By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. After finishing 10th or 12th grade or any matriculation degree, loco pilots can pursue ITI trades in mechanist, fitter, electronics, mechanic, radio & tv/refrigeration, air conditioning mechanic, wireman, etc.
Ans. An ALP’s compensation might increase to 50,000 rupees per month after 5 years of experience.
Ans. No, one must have a 12th grade diploma in areas such as physics, chemistry, and math, or an engineering diploma.
Ans. In normal Indian railways, locomotive pilot pay might range from 25k to 90k per month.
Ans. ALP RBB applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 28.
Ans. A loco pilot’s typical working hours are 8-10 hours.
Ans. Candidates were required to take a physical fitness assessment in all parts of the medical examination.