The median annual wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in California is $65,500 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $62,490.
Pay spans roughly $56,980 at the 10th percentile to $65,530 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $31.49 per hour. An estimated 280 people work as rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in California.
| Median (annual) | $65,500 |
| Mean (annual) | $62,490 |
| Median (hourly) | $31.49 |
| 10th percentile | $56,980 |
| 90th percentile | $65,530 |
| Employment | 280 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.