SOC 53-4013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers — Kentucky
Kentucky
The median wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Kentucky is $62,070 per year, close to the national median of $60,600 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Kentucky is $62,070 per year, close to the national median of $60,600 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $48,770 at the tenth percentile to more than $102,430 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $51,410 to $100,760.
Employment stands at 110, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 17 states with published data for this occupation, Kentucky ranks 7th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 269th of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,770 | −19.5% |
| 25th | $51,410 | −15.2% |
| Median (50th) | $62,070 | +2.4% |
| 75th | $100,760 | +66.3% |
| 90th | $102,430 | +69.0% |
| Mean | $71,390 | +17.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $62,070 goes as far as $68,814 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,814US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,070 a year, 2.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,770 to $102,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 7th of 17 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $62,070, or $29.84 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,600, so pay in Kentucky is 2.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $102,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,770 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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