Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Salary
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Tennessee make a median of $54,060 a year, or about $25.99 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $60,214 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in Tennessee?
About rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers in Tennessee runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $80K 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 Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,660/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $54K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers?
Tennessee pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers make in Tennessee?
The median is $54,060 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,330, and experienced rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers can clear $79,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,790/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 32.1% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $60,214 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.