Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- West Virginia$79,630
- Florida$77,700
- New Jersey$74,840
- Kentucky$71,390
- Texas$67,450
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $79,630 | $91,380 | $38 | +16.3% | 40 |
| 2 | Florida | $77,700 | $80,360 | $37 | +13.5% | 120 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $74,840 | $71,030 | $36 | +9.3% | 130 |
| 4 | Kentucky | $71,390 | $62,070 | $34 | +4.3% | 110 |
| 5 | Texas | $67,450 | $53,130 | $32 | -1.5% | 50 |
| 6 | California | $66,450 | $67,160 | $32 | -2.9% | 190 |
| 7 | Colorado | $62,260 | $60,770 | $30 | -9% | — |
| 8 | Tennessee | $61,460 | $54,060 | $30 | -10.2% | 60 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $60,580 | $63,400 | $29 | -11.5% | 70 |
| 10 | Indiana | $59,260 | $54,420 | $28 | -13.4% | 190 |
| 11 | Ohio | $58,760 | $59,460 | $28 | -14.2% | — |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $56,570 | $65,380 | $27 | -17.4% | 40 |
| 13 | Utah | $55,770 | $58,380 | $27 | -18.5% | — |
| 14 | Alabama | $54,390 | $48,900 | $26 | -20.5% | 80 |
| 15 | Kansas | $53,250 | $56,090 | $26 | -22.2% | — |
| 16 | Nevada | $48,430 | $48,970 | $23 | -29.2% | 40 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $45,500 | $38,980 | $22 | -33.5% | 70 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 3 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $91,380 | $80,720 | 30 |
| 2 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $61,230 | $56,010 | — |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $53,890 | $55,470 | 60 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rail Transportation | $72,590 | $77,460 | 2,290 |
| 2 | Rail Transportation | $72,590 | $77,460 | 2,290 |
| 3 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $68,480 | $63,680 | 270 |
| 4 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $68,480 | $63,680 | 270 |
| 5 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $68,480 | $63,560 | 240 |
| 6 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $68,480 | $63,560 | — |
| 7 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $68,480 | $63,680 | 270 |
| 8 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $65,380 | $67,510 | 40 |
| 9 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $65,380 | $67,510 | 40 |
| 10 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $60,900 | $56,850 | 70 |
| 11 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $60,600 | $68,450 | 3,920 |
| 12 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $60,260 | $69,540 | 3,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in the U.S.?
The median rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salary in the United States is $60,600 per year (mean $68,450), and about 80% earn between $44,540 and $100,270.
How much do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make per hour?
Roughly $33 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $68,450 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers the most?
West Virginia has the highest average pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers at $79,630 per year (median $91,380).
What is the job outlook for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers?
Employment is projected to change +0.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 200 openings per year.