Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in New Jersey
Thinking about a career as a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in New Jersey? 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 New Jersey?
For a rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers working in New Jersey, the median annual wage is $59,450 per year (or about $28.58/hour).Annual wages span from $48,120 at the 10th percentile to $99,470 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| 25th percentile | $52,580 | $25.28 |
| Median (50th) | $59,450 | $28.58 |
| 75th percentile | $82,440 | $39.64 |
| 90th percentile | $99,470 | $47.82 |
The job concentration index in New Jersey relative to the national average — is 2.35, meaning 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), higher than the New Jersey median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 1,375,225 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in the U.S.. In New Jersey alone, around 210 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 70 rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers.
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
The highest-paying states for 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
Important 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
Common tasks include:
- 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?
Related college programs include:
- Ground Transportation
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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
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