Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary in Alabama
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Alabama earn a median of $48,900 a year ($23.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,220 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $60,600. Alabama ranks 16th of 17 states for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers pay. There are 0.04 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| 25th percentile | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Median | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| 75th percentile | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| Average (mean) | $54,390 | $26.15 |
Half of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,037.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,880.77 |
| Weekly | $940.38 |
| Hourly | $23.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | $91,380 |
| Florida | $80,360 |
| New Jersey | $71,030 |
| California | $67,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,380 |
| Oklahoma | $63,400 |
| Kentucky | $62,070 |
| Colorado | $60,770 |
| Ohio | $59,460 |
| Utah | $58,380 |
See Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotive Engineer | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $56,050 | $26.95 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,290 | $16.48 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $52,120 | $25.06 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $17,630 | $8.48 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $31,770 | $15.28 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,360 | $14.11 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $38,810 | $18.66 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-4013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Alabama?
The median salary for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Alabama is $48,900 a year, or $23.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Alabama?
The top 10% of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Alabama earn at least $75,220 a year. The top 25% earn $75,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,270 a year, and a quarter of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn $38,270 or less.
How many rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers work in Alabama?
About 80 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.