Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers · Tennessee

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary in Tennessee

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $54,060 —10.8% below the national median of $60,600. That ranks TN #13 of 17 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$54,060
Median hourly
$25.99
Entry level (P10)
$44,330
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$79,690
90th percentile
Employment
60
0.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-10.8%
U.S. $60,600

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$44,330
$51,340
$54,060
$78,950
$44,330$54,060$79,690
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $54,060.

Employment is only 0.73× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

Highest-paying states for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers

All 17 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1West Virginia$91,380$43.93402.10
2Florida$80,360$38.631200.47
3New Jersey$71,030$34.151301.17
4California$67,160$32.291900.41
5Pennsylvania$65,380$31.43400.27
6Oklahoma$63,400$30.48701.68
7Kentucky$62,070$29.841102.16
8Colorado$60,770$29.22——
9Ohio$59,460$28.59——
10Utah$58,380$28.07——

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

How much do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Tennessee is $54,060, or $25.99 per hour. That is 10.8% below the national median of $60,600.

What is the entry-level rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $44,330 per year ($21.31/hour). The 25th percentile is $51,340.

How many people work as rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Tennessee?

About 60 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers?

Tennessee ranks #13 of 17 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.73x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.

Which state pays rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers the most?

West Virginia has the highest median wage at $91,380 per year, followed by Florida ($80,360) and New Jersey ($71,030).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes