Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary
The median rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salary in the United States is $60,600 per year ($29.14/hour). Salaries range from $44,540 at the entry level to $100,270+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 3,920 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$60,600
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.14
per hour
Employment
3,920
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$44,540
25th percentile
$52,780
Median
$60,600
75th percentile
$80,360
90th percentile
$100,270
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+0.3%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
200
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$39K$91K■ No data
Top Paying States
West Virginia
$91K
+51%
Florida
$80K
+33%
New Jersey
$71K
+17%
California
$67K
+11%
Pennsylvania
$65K
+8%
Oklahoma
$63K
+5%
Kentucky
$62K
+2%
Colorado
$61K
+0%
Ohio
$59K
-2%
Utah
$58K
-4%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $91,380 | +50.8% |
| Florida | $80,360 | +32.6% |
| New Jersey | $71,030 | +17.2% |
| California | $67,160 | +10.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $65,380 | +7.9% |
| Oklahoma | $63,400 | +4.6% |
| Kentucky | $62,070 | +2.4% |
| Colorado | $60,770 | +0.3% |
| Ohio | $59,460 | -1.9% |
| Utah | $58,380 | -3.7% |
Showing 1–10 of 17
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary by Metro Area
Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $61,230 | +1.0% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $53,890 | -11.1% |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earning $60,600/year would need 984 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1056 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary trend (2011–2024) →