SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-4013.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $44,540 | $3,712 | $857 | $21.41 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $52,780 | $4,398 | $1,015 | $25.37 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $60,600 | $5,050 | $1,165 | $29.14 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $80,360 | $6,697 | $1,545 | $38.63 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $100,270 | $8,356 | $1,928 | $48.21 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers is $60,600, which is 19% higher. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 17 by median pay. With 3,920 jobs, it makes up about 0.3 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($68,450) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers pay by state
The highest median pay was in West Virginia ($91,380), Florida ($80,360) and New Jersey ($71,030). The lowest was in Arkansas ($38,980), Alabama ($48,900) and Nevada ($48,970). The most jobs were in California (190), Indiana (190) and New Jersey (130). The occupation is most concentrated in Indiana, where its share of all jobs is 2.3 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 40 | $91,380 | $79,630 | $43.93 |
| Florida | 120 | $80,360 | $77,700 | $38.63 |
| New Jersey | 130 | $71,030 | $74,840 | $34.15 |
| California | 190 | $67,160 | $66,450 | $32.29 |
| Pennsylvania | 40 | $65,380 | $56,570 | $31.43 |
| Oklahoma | 70 | $63,400 | $60,580 | $30.48 |
| Kentucky | 110 | $62,070 | $71,390 | $29.84 |
| Colorado | not published | $60,770 | $62,260 | $29.22 |
| Ohio | not published | $59,460 | $58,760 | $28.59 |
| Utah | not published | $58,380 | $55,770 | $28.07 |
| Kansas | not published | $56,090 | $53,250 | $26.97 |
| Indiana | 190 | $54,420 | $59,260 | $26.16 |
| Tennessee | 60 | $54,060 | $61,460 | $25.99 |
| Texas | 50 | $53,130 | $67,450 | $25.54 |
| Nevada | 40 | $48,970 | $48,430 | $23.55 |
| Alabama | 80 | $48,900 | $54,390 | $23.51 |
| Arkansas | 70 | $38,980 | $45,500 | $18.74 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Flight Attendants$63,580 a year
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890 a year
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$61,770 a year
- Traffic Technicians$59,090 a year
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,050 a year
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$58,870 a year
Common questions
How much do Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $60,600 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,540 and the highest-paid 10% more than $100,270.
How many people work as Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers?
About 3,920 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.