Career Paths From Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Crane and Tower OperatorsAdvancement94.2% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Crane and Tower Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Crane and Tower Operators is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 12% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$68,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsCareer Change96.5% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$70,070
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pile Driver OperatorsCareer Change93.7% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Pile Driver Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Pile Driver Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 21% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$73,300
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Roof Bolters, MiningCareer Change95.1% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Roof Bolters, Mining share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Roof Bolters, Mining is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 30% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$78,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersLateral Move94.3% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsCareer Change96% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Power Plant Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 68% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsLateral Move93.7% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 28% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsCareer Change94.3% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$60,020
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Derrick Operators, Oil and GasCareer Change94% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$58,620
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsCareer Change93.6% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Continuous Mining Machine Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Continuous Mining Machine Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$61,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsCareer Change93.9% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 30% higher.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$78,620
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Logging Equipment OperatorsCareer Change94.2% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Logging Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Logging Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 18% lower.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$49,740
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersCareer Change94.9% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$48,540
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsCareer Change94.5% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 12% lower.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$53,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersCareer Change93.7% skill match
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 23% lower.
Current median salary
$60,600
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.