Skilled Trades
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
Median salary (BLS)
$60,600
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$45k – $100k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Plan a path to Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Entry / Junior
$44,540
~2 yrs to advance
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Established
$60,600
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Senior
$80,435
Key skills
A typical day
- •Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
- •Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
- •Apply and release hand brakes.
- •Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
- •Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.