Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in California
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators in California earn a median of $90,650 a year ($43.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,730 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $78,620. California ranks 7th of 51 states for stationary engineers and boiler operators pay. There are 0.32 stationary engineers and boiler operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $91,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for stationary engineers and boiler operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| 25th percentile | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Median | $90,650 | $43.58 |
| 75th percentile | $120,350 | $57.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,730 | $63.81 |
| Average (mean) | $91,010 | $43.75 |
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 | $7,554.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,777.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,486.54 |
| Weekly | $1,743.27 |
| Hourly | $43.58 |
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 in cities in California
| 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 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $103,690 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $99,840 | 520 |
| El Centro, CA | $96,150 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $94,100 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $92,420 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,170 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | $87,140 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $85,690 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,080 | 450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,420 | 1,980 |
| Napa, CA | $69,050 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $66,440 | 120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $64,470 | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $64,150 | 60 |
| Redding, CA | $61,690 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for stationary engineers and boiler operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $115,780 |
| Wyoming | $111,920 |
| Hawaii | $103,400 |
| Connecticut | $94,870 |
| New York | $94,070 |
| Washington | $91,530 |
| California | $90,650 |
| District of Columbia | $90,470 |
| Alaska | $88,330 |
| Maryland | $85,240 |
See Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $103,250 | $49.64 |
| Power Plant Operator | $105,210 | $50.58 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $78,020 | $37.51 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $130,220 | $62.61 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $87,550 | $42.09 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $137,570 | $66.14 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
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 California?
The median salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in California is $90,650 a year, or $43.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid stationary engineers and boiler operators make in California?
The top 10% of stationary engineers and boiler operators in California earn at least $132,730 a year. The top 25% earn $120,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,610 a year, and a quarter of stationary engineers and boiler operators earn $61,860 or less.
How many stationary engineers and boiler operators work in California?
About 5,840 stationary engineers and boiler operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.