Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in the U.S.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $78,620 a year ($37.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,390 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $83,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for stationary engineers and boiler operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| 25th percentile | $63,160 | $30.37 |
| Median | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| 75th percentile | $101,150 | $48.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,390 | $60.28 |
| Average (mean) | $83,960 | $40.37 |
Half of stationary engineers and boiler operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,551.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,275.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,023.85 |
| Weekly | $1,511.92 |
| Hourly | $37.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $115,780 | 1,680 |
| Wyoming | $111,920 | 100 |
| Hawaii | $103,400 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $94,870 | 270 |
| New York | $94,070 | 4,480 |
| Washington | $91,530 | 520 |
| California | $90,650 | 5,840 |
| District of Columbia | $90,470 | 620 |
| Alaska | $88,330 | 90 |
| Maryland | $85,240 | 850 |
| Michigan | $82,800 | 490 |
| Colorado | $81,310 | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $80,800 | 530 |
| Nevada | $79,110 | 60 |
| Montana | $77,690 | 110 |
| Delaware | $77,630 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $76,560 | 1,400 |
| Utah | $76,490 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $75,850 | 1,440 |
| Ohio | $75,470 | 760 |
| Arizona | $75,410 | 80 |
| New Mexico | $74,480 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,900 | 1,730 |
| South Carolina | $72,650 | 170 |
| Missouri | $72,620 | 380 |
| Tennessee | $72,470 | 370 |
| Georgia | $70,640 | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $68,450 | 180 |
| Vermont | $68,400 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $68,090 | 90 |
| Oregon | $67,630 | 330 |
| Indiana | $67,560 | 290 |
| Iowa | $67,450 | 190 |
| Kentucky | $66,770 | 90 |
| North Dakota | $66,760 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $66,180 | 60 |
| Florida | $65,040 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $64,930 | 290 |
| Kansas | $64,490 | 120 |
| Idaho | $64,460 | 120 |
| Virginia | $64,150 | 350 |
| Texas | $63,810 | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $63,330 | 60 |
| Maine | $62,910 | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $61,170 | 270 |
| North Carolina | $60,860 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $58,000 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $53,640 | 200 |
| Alabama | $53,470 | 220 |
| West Virginia | $53,340 | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,320 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $47,750 | 290 |
Best-paying metro areas for stationary engineers and boiler operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,930 | 980 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,170 | 210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,170 | 110 |
| Springfield, IL | $117,590 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $115,780 | 1,210 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $112,250 | 210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $104,810 | 3,810 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $103,690 | 50 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,380 | 80 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $103,060 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $99,840 | 520 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $97,470 | 80 |
| El Centro, CA | $96,150 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $94,870 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $94,100 | 110 |
Metro areas with the most stationary engineers and boiler operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,810 | $104,810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,980 | $74,420 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,210 | $115,780 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 980 | $129,930 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 970 | $91,480 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 750 | $76,560 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 740 | $79,720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 520 | $99,840 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 450 | $77,080 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 410 | $83,530 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 410 | $73,090 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 370 | $87,170 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 340 | $83,950 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 340 | $70,560 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 340 | $82,100 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a stationary engineers and boiler operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in the U.S. is $78,620 a year, or $37.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid stationary engineers and boiler operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of stationary engineers and boiler operators in the U.S. earn at least $125,390 a year. The top 25% earn $101,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,590 a year, and a quarter of stationary engineers and boiler operators earn $63,160 or less.
How many stationary engineers and boiler operators work in the U.S.?
About 28,250 stationary engineers and boiler operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.