The median annual wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $65,120 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $59,640.
Pay spans roughly $45,420 at the 10th percentile to $65,120 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $31.31 per hour. An estimated 50 people work as rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $65,120 |
| Mean (annual) | $59,640 |
| Median (hourly) | $31.31 |
| 10th percentile | $45,420 |
| 90th percentile | $65,120 |
| Employment | 50 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.