Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers is $60,600, or $29.14 per hour. About 3,920 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $91,380 in West Virginia to $38,980 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 17 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $91,380 | $43.93 | 40 | 2.10 |
| 2 | Florida | $80,360 | $38.63 | 120 | 0.47 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $71,030 | $34.15 | 130 | 1.17 |
| 4 | California | $67,160 | $32.29 | 190 | 0.41 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $65,380 | $31.43 | 40 | 0.27 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $63,400 | $30.48 | 70 | 1.68 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $62,070 | $29.84 | 110 | 2.16 |
| 8 | Colorado | $60,770 | $29.22 | — | — |
| 9 | Ohio | $59,460 | $28.59 | — | — |
| 10 | Utah | $58,380 | $28.07 | — | — |
| 11 | Kansas | $56,090 | $26.97 | — | — |
| 12 | Indiana | $54,420 | $26.16 | 190 | 2.33 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $54,060 | $25.99 | 60 | 0.73 |
| 14 | Texas | $53,130 | $25.54 | 50 | 0.13 |
| 15 | Nevada | $48,970 | $23.55 | 40 | 0.93 |
| 16 | Alabama | $48,900 | $23.51 | 80 | 1.41 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $38,980 | $18.74 | 70 | 2.02 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make?
The median annual wage for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in the United States is $60,600, or $29.14 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $44,540, and the top 10% earn $100,270.
How many rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers are employed in the U.S.?
About 3,920 people work as rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers nationwide.
Which state pays rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers the most?
West Virginia pays the most at a median of $91,380, followed by Florida ($80,360) and New Jersey ($71,030).
Which state pays rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $38,980.
Where are rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Indiana at 2.33×.