Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary in Pennsylvania
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $65,380 a year ($31.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,850 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $60,600. Pennsylvania ranks 5th 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 0.27). The average (mean) salary is $56,570, close to the median.
Pay range for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| 25th percentile | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Median | $65,380 | $31.43 |
| 75th percentile | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,850 | $31.66 |
| Average (mean) | $56,570 | $27.20 |
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 | $5,448.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,724.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,514.62 |
| Weekly | $1,257.31 |
| Hourly | $31.43 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $83,610 | $40.20 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $82,460 | $39.64 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $55,470 | $26.67 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,480 | $20.43 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,650 | $16.66 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Pennsylvania is $65,380 a year, or $31.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Pennsylvania earn at least $65,850 a year. The top 25% earn $65,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,390 a year, and a quarter of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn $39,350 or less.
How many rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers work in Pennsylvania?
About 40 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.