Also called: Rail Yard Engineers
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers build operation and control, operations monitoring and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (88%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 88% | $58,640 | −3% | None |
| 2 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 87% | $58,870 | −3% | None |
| 3 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 86% | $59,850 | −1% | None |
| 4 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 84% | $56,450 | −7% | None |
| 5 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | 80% | $74,500 | +23% | None |
| 6 | Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation | 79% | $92,100Pay for the broader BLS group “Transportation Inspectors” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 78% | $57,430 | −5% | None |
| 8 | Sailors and Marine Oilers | 78% | $51,520 | −15% | None |
| 9 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 78% | $70,070 | +16% | None |
| 10 | Roof Bolters, Mining | 78% | $78,540 | +30% | None |
Compared with Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers, median $60,600. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
88% skill match · $58,640 · −3% pay
Operations Analysis
87% skill match · $58,870 · −3% pay
Technology Design · Negotiation · Management of Financial Resources
86% skill match · $59,850 · −1% pay
Technology Design · Operations Analysis · Operation and Control
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (88% skill match, median $58,640), Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders (87% skill match, median $58,870) and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (86% skill match, median $59,850), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 11 pay more than rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers at the median. The biggest increases: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+60%, $96,710), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (+57%, $95,320) and Gas Plant Operators (+45%, $87,820).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.