Find Trade Colleges
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in West Virginia
Want to work as a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in West Virginia? Below are the key facts. Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
What do Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Make in West Virginia?
The rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers working in West Virginia, the median annual wage is $70,480 per year (or roughly $33.88/hour).Pay can range from $61,300 at the 10th percentile to $89,160 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| 25th percentile | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Median (50th) | $70,480 | $33.88 |
| 75th percentile | $89,160 | $42.87 |
| 90th percentile | $89,160 | $42.87 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in West Virginia relative to the national average — is 4.34, suggesting that rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn a median of $48,096 per year ($23.12/hour), exceeding the West Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 1,375,225 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers nationwide. In West Virginia alone, approximately 70 people work in this role. That matches the typical state median of 70.
Top States for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Employment
These states have the highest employment of rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 300 |
| California | 280 |
| New Jersey | 210 |
| Georgia | 170 |
| Kentucky | 120 |
| Texas | 80 |
| West Virginia | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | 60 |
| Kansas | 60 |
| Alabama | 50 |
| North Dakota | 50 |
| Arkansas | 30 |
| Florida | 30 |
Highest-Paying States for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Where rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers earn the most: rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $73,840 |
| North Dakota | $73,620 |
| West Virginia | $70,480 |
| California | $65,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,130 |
| New Jersey | $59,450 |
| Florida | $58,220 |
| Ohio | $58,000 |
| Alabama | $57,050 |
| Texas | $53,250 |
Skills
Key rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers typically:
- Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
- Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
- Apply and release hand brakes.
- Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
- Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
- Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.
- Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.
- Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
- Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.
- Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
- Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
- Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.
Work Activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved:
- Positive train control PTC systems (expert system software)
- Railcar inspection management software (facilities management software)
- RailComm DocYard (industrial control software)
- Railyard inventory software (inventory management software)
- Railyard management software RMS (data base user interface and query software)
- Softrail AEI Automatic Yard Tracking System (industrial control software)
- Softrail AEI Rail & Road Manager (inventory management software)
- Web browser software (internet browser software)
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Related occupations to rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers include:
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Also Known As
Car Barn Laborer, Car Mover, Carman, Coal Tram Driver, Coal Trammer, Diesel Dinkey Engineer, Diesel Dinkey Operator, Dinkey Driver, Dinkey Engine Operator, Dinkey Engineer, Dinkey Locomotive Engineer, Dinkey Locomotive Operator, Dinkey Motor Operator, Dinkey Operator, Dinkey Skinner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 53-4013.00
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.