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The differences between yard hostlers and yard jockeys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a yard jockey has an average salary of $44,440, which is higher than the $38,648 average annual salary of a yard hostler.
The top three skills for a yard hostler include CDL, dock doors and DOT. The most important skills for a yard jockey are CDL, tractor trailer, and work ethic.
| Yard Hostler | Yard Jockey | |
| Yearly salary | $38,648 | $44,440 |
| Hourly rate | $18.58 | $21.37 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,770 | 3,910 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A yard hostler is responsible for positioning large containers and cars in line with scheduled shipments. They are charged with transporting both full and empty containers in and out of dock doors. They are also expected to drive heavy machinery and vehicles, drive in and out of dockyards, and ensure that trailers and trucks are kept clean and in good working conditions. Yard hostlers adhere to set out security codes. A yard hostler should also be skilled or knowledgeable in various vehicle repair techniques.
A yard jockey is responsible for identifying reliable and efficient equipment to support a warehouse or distribution center's daily operations, especially on manufacturing processes and delivery tasks. Yard jockeys negotiate with transportation and equipment suppliers with minimal costs but high-quality performance. They also assist in moving equipment, loading and unloading merchandise, and scheduling regular maintenance for vehicles and machinery. A yard jockey must have excellent time-management skills, as well as the ability to multitask to perform duties within the fast-paced environment under minimal supervision.
Yard hostlers and yard jockeys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Yard Hostler | Yard Jockey | |
| Average salary | $38,648 | $44,440 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $51,000 | Between $33,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Elizabeth, NJ | Albany, OR |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Ryder System | Fortune Brands Home & Security |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a yard hostler and a yard jockey in terms of educational background:
| Yard Hostler | Yard Jockey | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | General Studies | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between yard hostlers' and yard jockeys' demographics:
| Yard Hostler | Yard Jockey | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 1.9% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 14.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 4% |