SOC 53-4013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers — Tennessee
Tennessee
The median wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Tennessee is $54,060 per year, 10.8% below the national median of $60,600.
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 Tennessee is $54,060 per year, 10.8% below the national median of $60,600. Pay ranges from under $44,330 at the tenth percentile to more than $79,690 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $51,340 to $78,950.
Employment stands at 60, or 0.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 17 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 13th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 369th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,330 | −26.8% |
| 25th | $51,340 | −15.3% |
| Median (50th) | $54,060 | −10.8% |
| 75th | $78,950 | +30.3% |
| 90th | $79,690 | +31.5% |
| Mean | $61,460 | +1.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $54,060 goes as far as $58,825 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,825US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,060 a year, 10.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,330 to $79,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 13th of 17 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $54,060, or $25.99 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 Tennessee is 10.8% lower. 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 Tennessee earns more than $79,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,330 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 60 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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