Average Salary for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
SOC 53-4013 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in the United States is $58,030 ($27.90/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $44,510 at the 10th percentile to $79,070 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 3,300 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 32.2% since 2014.
Median Annual
$58,030
Mean Annual
$60,810
10th Pct
$44,510
75th Pct
$65,530
Employment
3,300
Salary Distribution
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $52,590 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $38,580 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New York | $73,840 |
| North Dakota | $73,620 |
| West Virginia | $70,480 |
| California | $65,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,130 |
| New Jersey | $59,450 |
| Florida | $58,220 |
| Ohio | $58,000 |
| Alabama | $57,050 |
| Texas | $53,250 |
| Kansas | $52,710 |
| Kentucky | $50,090 |
| Georgia | $48,700 |
| Indiana | $47,960 |
| Arkansas | $47,780 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $66,640 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $66,640 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $66,640 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $66,640 |
| Coal Mining | $64,170 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $64,130 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $64,130 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $63,290 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $63,290 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $62,200 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $62,200 |
| Manufacturing | $61,300 |
| Rail Transportation | $60,450 |
| Rail Transportation | $60,450 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $58,030 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $58,030 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $57,650 |
| Truck Transportation | $56,980 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $52,130 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $50,580 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $58,030 |
| 2023 | $57,070 |
| 2022 | $56,340 |
| 2021 | $61,090 |
| 2020 | $51,720 |
| 2019 | $49,330 |
| 2018 | $52,630 |
| 2017 | $50,150 |
| 2016 | $50,470 |
| 2015 | $45,780 |
| 2014 | $43,880 |