How much do Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers make?
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers earn a median annual salary of $60,600 in the United States, which works out to roughly $29.13 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $44,540 at the entry level and $100,270 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $52,780 and $80,360 a year.
That is $790 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary range by percentile
Half of all Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers earn between $52,780 and $80,360 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,540 | $21.41 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $52,780 | $25.38 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,600 | $29.13 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,360 | $38.63 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,270 | $48.21 |
Highest-paying states for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. West Virginia leads the country for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers pay at $91,380 a year, followed by Florida ($80,360) and New Jersey ($71,030). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $38,980 — a gap of $52,400 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $91,380 | $43.93 | +51% |
| 2 | Florida | $80,360 | $38.63 | +33% |
| 3 | New Jersey | $71,030 | $34.15 | +17% |
| 4 | California | $67,160 | $32.29 | +11% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $65,380 | $31.43 | +8% |
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 17 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 4,000 people work as Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $68,450 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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