Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers actually take home in Arkansas?
Progressive (up to 4.4%) — 18.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers earning $38,980 in Arkansas (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $38,980 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,693 | 6.9% |
| Arkansas State Income Tax | -$1,595 | 4.1% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,416 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$565 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,270 | 18.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $31,709 | 81.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,550 | -$6,926 | $30,623 | 18.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,560 | -$6,929 | $30,630 | 18.4% |
| Median (P50) | $38,980 | -$7,270 | $31,709 | 18.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,800 | -$9,632 | $39,167 | 19.7% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $72,340 | -$16,352 | $55,987 | 22.6% |
After federal income tax ($2,693), state tax ($1,595), and FICA ($2,981), a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas takes home $31,709 per year — or $2,642 per month. The effective tax rate of 18.7% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.7%, keeping 81.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $31,709 net out of $38,980 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Arkansas uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary the state tax works out to $1,595 (4.1% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers salary is $2,694 (37%), but combined state ($1,595, 22%) + FICA ($2,982, 41%) make up the other 63% of the bill.
A Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $33,304 — only $1,595 (5.0%) more than in Arkansas.
Arkansas sits near the bottom (#17 of 17) for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $31,709 net/year works out to $2,642/month or $1,220/bi-weekly for this Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Arkansas ranks #17 out of 17 states for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers after-tax take-home pay.
A Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas earning a median salary of $38,980 will take home approximately $31,709 per year after federal income tax ($2,693), state income tax ($1,595), and FICA ($2,981). That is $2,642 per month or $1,219 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas is 18.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.9%, Arkansas state tax 4.1%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Arkansas has a progressive (up to 4.4%). On a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers's median salary of $38,980, the state income tax amounts to $1,595 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.1%.
After all taxes, a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas takes home approximately $2,642 per month, or about $15.24 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $38,980 for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers in Arkansas, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Arkansas state income tax (progressive (up to 4.4%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $31,709/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR