Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary in West Virginia
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in West Virginia earn a median of $91,380 a year ($43.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,380 for the top 10%. That is 51% higher than the national median of $60,600. West Virginia ranks 1st of 17 states for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.05 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $79,630, close to the median.
Pay range for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,990 | $30.29 |
| 25th percentile | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Median | $91,380 | $43.93 |
| 75th percentile | $91,380 | $43.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,380 | $43.94 |
| Average (mean) | $79,630 | $38.28 |
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 | $7,615 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,807.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,514.62 |
| Weekly | $1,757.31 |
| Hourly | $43.93 |
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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotive Engineer | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $55,180 | $26.53 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,480 | $23.79 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,990 | $17.79 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $33,360 | $16.04 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $52,420 | $25.20 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $35,840 | $17.23 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in West Virginia
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 West Virginia?
The median salary for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in West Virginia is $91,380 a year, or $43.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in West Virginia earn at least $91,380 a year. The top 25% earn $91,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,990 a year, and a quarter of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn $63,510 or less.
How many rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers work in West Virginia?
About 40 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.