Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas make a median of $38,980 a year, or about $18.74 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $44,477 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 38.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arkansas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $39K get you in Arkansas?
About rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Arkansas runs about 36% below the U.S. median of $61K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 38.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 38.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,253/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostler a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 36% below the national median — $39K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers?
Arkansas pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -36%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Arkansas?
The median is $38,980 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,550, and experienced rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers can clear $72,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,667/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 38.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers salary is worth about $44,477 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.