Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator Salary
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators earn a median $78,620 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$78,620
$37.80 per hour
Range
$50,590 – $125,390
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
28,250
across the U.S.
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$64,139
per year · effective tax rate 18.4%
$5,345Monthly
$2,672Twice a month
$2,467Every 2 weeks
$30.84Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,466
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,874
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,140
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,139
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,590 | $24.32 | $42,829 |
| 25th percentile | $63,160 | $30.37 | $52,929 |
| Median (50th) | $78,620 | $37.80 | $64,139 |
| 75th percentile | $101,150 | $48.63 | $79,989 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,390 | $60.28 | $96,970 |
Best cities for stationary engineers and boiler operators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $115,780 | $84,695 | $81,756 | 1,210 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $129,930 | $90,530 | $78,304 | 980 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $104,810 | $77,420 | $68,780 | 3,810 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $99,840 | $72,714 | $68,167 | 520 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $91,480 | $68,379 | $62,800 | 970 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,720 | $62,466 | $60,910 | 740 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,560 | $59,007 | $56,293 | 750 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $77,080 | $59,099 | $52,821 | 450 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,420 | $57,476 | $50,610 | 1,980 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $129,930
- Chicago, IL — $115,780
- New York, NY — $104,810
- Sacramento, CA — $99,840
- Washington, DC — $91,480
- Philadelphia, PA — $79,720
- San Diego, CA — $77,080
- Minneapolis, MN — $76,560
- Los Angeles, CA — $74,420
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $115,780 | $84,695 | $72,270 – $125,260 | 1,680 |
| Wyoming | $111,920 | $87,566 | $62,940 – $116,180 | 100 |
| Hawaii | $103,400 | $75,244 | $57,720 – $112,660 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $94,870 | $71,928 | $67,520 – $109,680 | 270 |
| New York | $94,070 | $70,498 | $61,290 – $151,730 | 4,480 |
| Washington | $91,530 | $73,221 | $67,220 – $128,250 | 520 |
| California | $90,650 | $67,223 | $48,610 – $132,730 | 5,840 |
| District of Columbia | $90,470 | $67,754 | $62,710 – $108,600 | 620 |
| Alaska | $88,330 | $70,970 | $61,140 – $117,740 | 90 |
| Maryland | $85,240 | $65,111 | $57,190 – $107,890 | 850 |
| Michigan | $82,800 | $63,812 | $54,510 – $92,630 | 490 |
| Colorado | $81,310 | $63,162 | $46,670 – $99,550 | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $80,800 | $61,853 | $64,540 – $100,710 | 530 |
| Nevada | $79,110 | $64,484 | $76,510 – $129,400 | 60 |
| Montana | $77,690 | $60,456 | $50,410 – $108,210 | 110 |
| Delaware | $77,630 | $59,660 | $71,700 – $89,920 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $76,560 | $60,003 | $54,170 – $106,490 | 1,400 |
| Utah | $76,490 | $60,165 | $65,270 – $114,600 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $75,850 | $58,556 | $61,620 – $98,610 | 1,440 |
| Ohio | $75,470 | $60,630 | $59,130 – $87,890 | 760 |
| Arizona | $75,410 | $60,204 | $57,440 – $124,490 | 80 |
| New Mexico | $74,480 | $58,892 | $39,520 – $116,160 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,900 | $57,877 | $48,140 – $89,000 | 1,730 |
| South Carolina | $72,650 | $56,737 | $53,330 – $89,240 | 170 |
| Missouri | $72,620 | $57,442 | $49,920 – $85,070 | 380 |
| Tennessee | $72,470 | $59,813 | $34,360 – $93,500 | 370 |
| Georgia | $70,640 | $55,482 | $53,290 – $92,310 | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $68,450 | $54,450 | $45,330 – $95,830 | 180 |
| Vermont | $68,400 | $54,895 | $44,620 – $77,870 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $68,090 | $56,731 | $43,310 – $75,770 | 90 |
| Oregon | $67,630 | $51,320 | $47,780 – $100,220 | 330 |
| Indiana | $67,560 | $54,395 | $48,730 – $94,080 | 290 |
| Iowa | $67,450 | $54,370 | $49,760 – $76,380 | 190 |
| Kentucky | $66,770 | $53,583 | $28,890 – $88,900 | 90 |
| North Dakota | $66,760 | $55,753 | $48,270 – $108,460 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $66,180 | $55,356 | $53,490 – $85,280 | 60 |
| Florida | $65,040 | $54,440 | $46,930 – $83,080 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $64,930 | $52,276 | $46,470 – $86,400 | 290 |
| Kansas | $64,490 | $51,199 | $50,230 – $90,730 | 120 |
| Idaho | $64,460 | $51,666 | $53,950 – $80,870 | 120 |
| Virginia | $64,150 | $50,850 | $36,510 – $94,640 | 350 |
| Texas | $63,810 | $53,451 | $48,250 – $90,190 | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $63,330 | $51,308 | $53,280 – $86,740 | 60 |
| Maine | $62,910 | $49,663 | $49,360 – $78,880 | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $61,170 | $49,420 | $51,040 – $78,120 | 270 |
| North Carolina | $60,860 | $49,161 | $37,050 – $79,450 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $58,000 | $46,734 | $43,800 – $72,320 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $53,640 | $43,866 | $42,440 – $78,390 | 200 |
| Alabama | $53,470 | $42,735 | $38,160 – $78,560 | 220 |
| West Virginia | $53,340 | $43,370 | $49,120 – $56,420 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $47,750 | $39,501 | $39,710 – $87,560 | 290 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a stationary engineer and boiler operator make?
The national median salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators is $78,620 a year ($37.80 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,590 and the top 10% earn over $125,390. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays stationary engineers and boiler operators the most?
Illinois has the highest median pay at $115,780. After taxes and local prices, Chicago, IL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many stationary engineers and boiler operators are there in the U.S.?
About 28,250 people work as stationary engineers and boiler operators nationwide.