Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary in Florida
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Florida earn a median of $80,360 a year ($38.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,580 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $60,600. Florida ranks 2nd of 17 states for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.01 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $77,700, close to the median.
Pay range for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| 25th percentile | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| Median | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| 75th percentile | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| Average (mean) | $77,700 | $37.36 |
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 | $6,696.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,348.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,090.77 |
| Weekly | $1,545.38 |
| Hourly | $38.63 |
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 Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $79,600 | $38.27 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $92,310 | $44.38 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $58,250 | $28.00 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Light Truck Driver | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Parking Attendant | $29,650 | $14.26 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Florida
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 Florida?
The median salary for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Florida is $80,360 a year, or $38.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Florida?
The top 10% of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Florida earn at least $80,580 a year. The top 25% earn $80,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,900 a year, and a quarter of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn $80,360 or less.
How many rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers work in Florida?
About 120 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.