Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in the U.S. is $60,600 ($29.14 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $60,600
- Mean annual wage
- $68,450
- Median hourly wage
- $29.14
- Employment
- 3,920
3,920 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,540 | $21.41 |
| 25th percentile | $52,780 | $25.37 |
| Median (50th) | $60,600 | $29.14 |
| 75th percentile | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| 90th percentile | $100,270 | $48.21 |
Highest-paying states for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $91,380 | 40 |
| Florida | $80,360 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $71,030 | 130 |
| California | $67,160 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,380 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $63,400 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $62,070 | 110 |
| Colorado | $60,770 | — |
| Ohio | $59,460 | — |
| Utah | $58,380 | — |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $38,980 median annual wage
- Alabama: $48,900 median annual wage
- Nevada: $48,970 median annual wage
- Texas: $53,130 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $54,060 median annual wage
About this occupation
Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
Typical tasks
- Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.
- Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
- Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.
- Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
- Apply and release hand brakes.
- Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.0% |
| Some college, no degree | 33.2% |
| Associate's degree | 11.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11.7% |
| Master's degree | 1.7% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.