Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
Production Occupations · 28K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$78,620
Median hourly
$38
Average annual
$83,960
Typical range
$50,590–$125,390
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators is $78,620 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $38 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers..
Most earn between $50,590 and $125,390 a year. There are roughly 28K people employed as stationary engineers and boiler operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators.
- Hourly
- $37.80
- Daily
- $302
- Weekly
- $1,512
- Bi-weekly
- $3,024
- Monthly
- $6,552
- Annual
- $78,620
$78,620 a year is around the 50th percentile for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operatorss. The median is $78,620.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Illinois$115,780
- 2Wyoming$111,920
- 3Hawaii$103,400
- 4Connecticut$94,870
- 5New York$94,070
- 6Washington$91,530
- 7California$90,650
- 8District of Columbia$90,470
- 9Alaska$88,330
- 10Maryland$85,240
- 11Michigan$82,800
- 12Colorado$81,310
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$129,930
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,170
- 3Vallejo, CA$123,170
- 4Springfield, IL$117,590
- 5Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$115,780
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$112,250
- 7New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$104,810
- 8Stockton-Lodi, CA$103,690
- 9Kennewick-Richland, WA$103,380
- 10Urban Honolulu, HI$103,060
- 11Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$99,840
- 12Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$97,470
Related job titles
Employers advertise Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators roles under these titles.
- Air Compressor Engineer
- Air Compressor Operator
- Air Plant Engineer
- Blowing Engineer
- Boiler Engineer
- Boiler Fireman
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic
- Boiler Plant Operator
- Boiler Room Operator
- Boiler Technician (Boiler Tech)
- Breaker Engineer
- Byproduct Engineer
- Cooling System Operator
- Cooling Tower Operator
- Diesel Stationary Engineer
Related occupations
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$74,340
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,320
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,230
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,010
- Gas Plant Operators$87,820
- Mechanical Engineers$104,110
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers$106,730
What a Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators does
- Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
- Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
- Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations.
- Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
- Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
- Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
- Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
- Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators is $78,620 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $50,590 at the 10th percentile to $125,390 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $83,960, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operatorss the most?
- Illinois has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $115,780.
- Is Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 28K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators do?
- Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.; Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.; Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations..