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What You Need to Know About Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler

Occupation Description Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.

Life As a Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler

Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
Apply and release hand brakes.
Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.

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Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler Required Skills

These are the skills Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers say are the most useful in their careers:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Types of Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler

Dinkey Operator
Ingot Car Operator
Conductor
Hostler
Larry Car Operator

Job Outlook for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

In the United States, there were 4,400 jobs for Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 200 new jobs for Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler by 2026. The BLS estimates 400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler are South Carolina, Texas, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Minnesota, or Michigan. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler Salary

The average yearly salary of a Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler ranges between $33,280 and $81,380.

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers who work in South Carolina, New York, or Alabama, make the highest salaries.

How much do Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$56,960
Arkansas	$40,320
California	$55,480
Colorado	$36,980
Florida	$54,890
Georgia	$41,010
Illinois	$58,140
Indiana	$59,130
Kentucky	$49,940
Massachusetts	$61,180
Michigan	$40,570
Minnesota	$55,740
Missouri	$44,900
Nebraska	$58,090
New York	$72,370
North Carolina	$45,740
Ohio	$56,780
Oklahoma	$71,640
Pennsylvania	$50,650
South Carolina	$73,390
Tennessee	$52,250
Texas	$51,140
Utah	$44,380
West Virginia	$50,040

What Tools & Technology do Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers:

Web browser software

Becoming a Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler

Learn what Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, or Hostler education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Are Employed

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers work in the following industries:

References:

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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