Jobs Similar to Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Also called: Rail Yard Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Sailors and Marine Oilers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers.
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers: $60,600 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sailors and Marine Oilers | 81% | $51,520−15% | High school |
| 2 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 81% | $58,640−3% | High school |
| 3 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersSame group | 81% | $68,840+14% | High school |
| 4 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 80% | $40,450−33% | High school |
| 5 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 80% | $58,870−3% | High school |
| 6 | Locomotive EngineersSame group | 80% | $81,410+34% | High school |
| 7 | Motorboat Operators | 79% | $47,520−22% | High school |
| 8 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 79% | $49,880−18% | High school |
| 9 | Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 79% | $49,690−18% | High school |
| 10 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 79% | $92,460+53% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 78% | $70,070+16% | High school |
| 12 | Roof Bolters, Mining | 78% | $78,540+30% | High school |
| 13 | Recycling and Reclamation Workers | 77% | $40,240Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 14 | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 77% | $50,960−16% | High school |
| 15 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 77% | $47,730−21% | High school |
| 16 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 77% | $48,540−20% | High school |
| 17 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 77% | $96,710+60% | High school |
| 18 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | 77% | $49,450−18% | High school |
| 19 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 77% | $56,450−7% | High school |
| 20 | Light Truck Drivers | 76% | $44,860−26% | High school |
- 1Sailors and Marine Oilers
81% similar · $51,520 (−15%) · High school
- 2Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81% similar · $58,640 (−3%) · High school
- 3Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
81% similar · $68,840 (+14%) · High school · Same group
- 4Aircraft Service Attendants
80% similar · $40,450 (−33%) · High school
- 5Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
80% similar · $58,870 (−3%) · High school
- 6Locomotive Engineers
80% similar · $81,410 (+34%) · High school · Same group
- 7Motorboat Operators
79% similar · $47,520 (−22%) · High school
- 8Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
79% similar · $49,880 (−18%) · High school
- 9Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
79% similar · $49,690 (−18%) · High school
- 10Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
79% similar · $92,460 (+53%) · Training or associate
- 11Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
78% similar · $70,070 (+16%) · High school
- 12Roof Bolters, Mining
78% similar · $78,540 (+30%) · High school
- 13Recycling and Reclamation Workers
77% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
- 14Tree Trimmers and Pruners
77% similar · $50,960 (−16%) · High school
- 15Helpers--Extraction Workers
77% similar · $47,730 (−21%) · High school
- 16Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $48,540 (−20%) · High school
- 17Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
77% similar · $96,710 (+60%) · High school
- 18Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
77% similar · $49,450 (−18%) · High school
- 19Hoist and Winch Operators
77% similar · $56,450 (−7%) · High school
- 20Light Truck Drivers
76% similar · $44,860 (−26%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers77% similar · $96,710 (+60%)
- Locomotive Engineers80% similar · $81,410 (+34%)
- Roof Bolters, Mining78% similar · $78,540 (+30%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators78% similar · $70,070 (+16%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers81% similar · $68,840 (+14%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (88)
- Bridge and Lock Tenders (84)
- Motorboat Operators (83)
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (81)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (80)
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders (80)
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (79)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (79)
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (77)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (77)
Questions about jobs like rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
What jobs are most similar to rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Sailors and Marine Oilers (81% similar), Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (81% similar), Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (81% similar), Aircraft Service Attendants (80% similar) and Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders (80% similar).
Which jobs like rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +60%; usually a high school diploma), Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ($92,460, +53%; usually training or an associate degree) and Locomotive Engineers ($81,410, +34%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers ($60,600). Without more preparation than rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Locomotive Engineers and Roof Bolters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.