Do you know how much a loco pilot earns in the Indian Railways? If not, today we will tell you, along with the educational qualifications required for the job.

Indian Railways is the world's fourth-largest rail network, and millions of people travel on it every day. The biggest responsibility for running this vast network safely and on time rests with the train drivers, or loco pilots. There is always curiosity among people regarding the salaries of drivers working on high-speed trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and now Vande Bharat. The question often arises: who gets the highest salary? Does the loco pilot of a modern train like Vande Bharat earn the most, or do the drivers on premium routes like Rajdhani and Shatabdi receive higher salaries?

In reality, the salaries of loco pilots in Indian Railways depend on their route, type of train, experience, grade, and overtime. Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat all fall under the category of premium trains. Their loco pilots also have more experience compared to those on regular mail and express trains, hence their salaries are higher. However, among these three, the loco pilot of the Vande Bharat train usually earns the most, as it is a high-speed train and requires more training, experience, and technical skills to operate. After that comes the salary of the Rajdhani and then the Shatabdi loco pilots.

You don't become a loco pilot directly

Now the question arises: how do you become a loco pilot, and how much do they earn? First, understand that you cannot become a loco pilot directly. In the railways, candidates are first appointed as Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP). For this, a 10th-grade pass along with an ITI or diploma qualification is required. The age limit is 18 to 30 years, with relaxations for reserved categories as per rules. After becoming an ALP, the candidate receives rigorous training, and then they are given practical experience on actual trains from time to time. Only after several years of service and training do candidates take on the responsibility of a loco pilot. What is the salary?

Regarding salary, the starting basic pay for an Assistant Loco Pilot is ₹19,900 (Level-2), which, including allowances, results in an in-hand salary of approximately ₹30,000-35,000. As experience increases, so do the positions and salaries. A Senior Loco Pilot can earn between ₹35,000 and ₹55,000. The salary of a Chief Loco Pilot can reach ₹60,000 or more, but drivers operating premium trains earn significantly more than this.