51 Series · SOC 51-8021

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$78,620
Median / year
+4.6%
2024→2025
$125,390
Top 10% earn
+2.2%
Growth '24–'34
28,250
Estimated US jobs

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators earn a median of $78,620 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $78,620, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $50,590 (10th percentile) to $125,390 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 28,250 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Illinois ($115,780).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
Share: Post LinkedIn

The pay verdict

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators earn a median of $78,620, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 71% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #6 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.2% by 2034.

$78,620
Median annual wage
Top 29%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#6 of 105
in Production
2.5×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Illinois at $115,780. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators moved from $62,150 in May 2019 to $78,620 in May 2025 (+26.5%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators sits +2.1 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (SOC 51-8021) has a national median of $78,620 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $50,590 to $125,390, and the published mean is $83,960. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 28,250 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 146 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $75,190 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $78,620 in May 2025, a rise of $3,430 (+4.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 3,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as long-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Illinois pays the highest state median at $115,780, which is +47% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $129,930. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 28,250 jobs Median $78,620/yr

Median Salary

$78,620

per year

Median Hourly

$37.80/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$83,960

average

Employment

28,250

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$78,620 Top 29% higher than 71% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 (this entry) 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$78,620 · 71st percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators sits on the slower-growing side at +2.2% growth and $78,620 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000$90000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $78620
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators sits on the slower-growing side at +2.2% growth and $78,620 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
  • Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $78620

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.2%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

3,800

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+700

33,300 (2024) → 34,000 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Long-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 4.0
Operation and Control 3.4
Active Listening 3.3
Critical Thinking 3.3
Equipment Maintenance 3.3
Troubleshooting 3.3
Repairing 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Active Learning 3.1
Monitoring 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Mechanical 4.1
Chemistry 3.4
Public Safety and Security 3.3
Physics 3.2
Engineering and Technology 3.2
English Language 3.1
Computers and Electronics 3.1
Mathematics 3.1
Production and Processing 3.1
Building and Construction 3.0

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
  • 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.
  • Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.
  • Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
  • Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
  • Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.
  • 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.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$50,590
25th$63,160
Median$78,620
75th$101,150
90th$125,390

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$24.32
25th$30.37
Median$37.80
75th$48.63
90th$60.28

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $58,530National median - 2016: $59,400National median - 2017: $59,890National median - 2018: $60,440National median - 2019: $62,150National median - 2020: $64,680National median - 2021: $63,500National median - 2022: $67,120National median - 2023: $67,640National median - 2024: $75,190National median - 2025: $78,620$78,620
National median annual wage for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $58,530
2016 $59,400
2017 $59,890
2018 $60,440
2019 $62,150
2020 $64,680
2021 $63,500
2022 $67,120
2023 $67,640
2024 $75,190
2025 $78,620

2015 median

$58,530

2025 median

$78,620

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$16,470 (+26.5%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $58,530 First banked release 34,630
May 2016 $59,400 +1.5% 33,720
May 2017 $59,890 +0.8% 32,790
May 2018 $60,440 +0.9% 31,710
May 2019 $62,150 Classification break 32,520
May 2020 $64,680 +4.1% 29,550
May 2021 $63,500 -1.8% 29,820
May 2022 $67,120 +5.7% 31,470
May 2023 $67,640 +0.8% 33,840
May 2024 $75,190 +11.2% 30,780
May 2025 $78,620 +4.6% 28,250

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $58,530 in May 2015 to $78,620 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 32,520 in May 2019 to 28,250 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 52 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Illinois $115,780 +47% above national
2 Wyoming $111,920 +42% above national
3 Hawaii $103,400 +32% above national
4 Connecticut $94,870 +21% above national
5 New York $94,070 +20% above national
6 Washington $91,530 +16% above national
7 California $90,650 +15% above national
8 District of Columbia $90,470 +15% above national
9 Alaska $88,330 +12% above national
10 Maryland $85,240 +8% above national
11 Michigan $82,800 +5% above national
12 Colorado $81,310 +3% above national
13 Massachusetts $80,800 +3% above national
14 Nevada $79,110 +1% above national
15 Montana $77,690 1% below national
16 Delaware $77,630 1% below national
17 New Jersey $76,560 3% below national
18 Utah $76,490 3% below national
19 Minnesota $75,850 4% below national
20 Ohio $75,470 4% below national
21 Arizona $75,410 4% below national
22 New Mexico $74,480 5% below national
23 Pennsylvania $72,900 7% below national
24 South Carolina $72,650 8% below national
25 Missouri $72,620 8% below national
26 Tennessee $72,470 8% below national
27 Georgia $70,640 10% below national
28 Oklahoma $68,450 13% below national
29 Vermont $68,400 13% below national
30 South Dakota $68,090 13% below national
31 Oregon $67,630 14% below national
32 Indiana $67,560 14% below national
33 Iowa $67,450 14% below national
34 Kentucky $66,770 15% below national
35 North Dakota $66,760 15% below national
36 New Hampshire $66,180 16% below national
37 Florida $65,040 17% below national
38 Nebraska $64,930 17% below national
39 Kansas $64,490 18% below national
40 Idaho $64,460 18% below national
41 Virginia $64,150 18% below national
42 Texas $63,810 19% below national
43 Rhode Island $63,330 19% below national
44 Maine $62,910 20% below national
45 Wisconsin $61,170 22% below national
46 North Carolina $60,860 23% below national
47 Arkansas $58,000 26% below national
48 Mississippi $53,640 32% below national
49 Alabama $53,470 32% below national
50 West Virginia $53,340 32% below national
51 Puerto Rico $51,320 35% below national
52 Louisiana $47,750 39% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 110 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $129,930 +65% above national
2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $123,170 +57% above national
3 Vallejo, CA $123,170 +57% above national
4 Springfield, IL $117,590 +50% above national
5 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $115,780 +47% above national
6 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $112,250 +43% above national
7 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $104,810 +33% above national
8 Stockton-Lodi, CA $103,690 +32% above national
9 Kennewick-Richland, WA $103,380 +31% above national
10 Urban Honolulu, HI $103,060 +31% above national
11 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $99,840 +27% above national
12 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $97,470 +24% above national
13 El Centro, CA $96,150 +22% above national
14 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $94,870 +21% above national
15 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $94,100 +20% above national
16 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $92,420 +18% above national
17 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $91,480 +16% above national
18 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $90,830 +16% above national
19 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $87,700 +12% above national
20 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $87,170 +11% above national
21 Fresno, CA $87,140 +11% above national
22 Lima, OH $85,930 +9% above national
23 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $85,690 +9% above national
24 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $85,180 +8% above national
25 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $83,950 +7% above national
26 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $83,530 +6% above national
27 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $83,350 +6% above national
28 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $82,100 +4% above national
29 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $81,250 +3% above national
30 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $79,720 +1% above national
31 Columbus, OH $79,680 +1% above national
32 Anchorage, AK $79,320 +1% above national
33 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $79,160 +1% above national
34 Reno, NV $79,110 +1% above national
35 Cleveland, OH $78,850 same as national
36 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $78,820 same as national
37 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $78,800 same as national
38 Mankato, MN $78,610 same as national
39 Worcester, MA $78,210 1% below national
40 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $78,070 1% below national
41 Longview-Kelso, WA $77,350 2% below national
42 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $77,080 2% below national
43 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $76,560 3% below national
44 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $76,510 3% below national
45 Toledo, OH $76,190 3% below national
46 Vineland, NJ $75,940 3% below national
47 St. Louis, MO-IL $75,610 4% below national
48 Duluth, MN-WI $75,260 4% below national
49 Kansas City, MO-KS $74,540 5% below national
50 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $74,420 5% below national
51 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $74,300 5% below national
52 Grand Forks, ND-MN $74,240 6% below national
53 St. Cloud, MN $73,930 6% below national
54 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $73,790 6% below national
55 Ogden, UT $73,090 7% below national
56 Pittsburgh, PA $73,090 7% below national
57 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $72,950 7% below national
58 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $72,090 8% below national
59 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $71,950 8% below national
60 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $71,910 9% below national
61 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $71,850 9% below national
62 Colorado Springs, CO $71,680 9% below national
63 Rochester, MN $71,670 9% below national
64 Omaha, NE-IA $71,560 9% below national
65 Rochester, NY $71,490 9% below national
66 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $71,050 10% below national
67 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $70,560 10% below national
68 Springfield, MA $70,250 11% below national
69 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $69,600 11% below national
70 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $69,260 12% below national
71 Napa, CA $69,050 12% below national
72 Oklahoma City, OK $68,650 13% below national
73 Tulsa, OK $68,560 13% below national
74 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $68,550 13% below national
75 Portland-South Portland, ME $68,340 13% below national
76 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $68,100 13% below national
77 Akron, OH $67,540 14% below national
78 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $67,540 14% below national
79 Syracuse, NY $67,430 14% below national
80 Kingston, NY $67,250 14% below national
81 Fargo, ND-MN $66,760 15% below national
82 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $66,660 15% below national
83 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $66,620 15% below national
84 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $66,550 15% below national
85 Salinas, CA $66,440 15% below national
86 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $65,960 16% below national
87 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $65,880 16% below national
88 Utica-Rome, NY $64,940 17% below national
89 Columbia, SC $64,930 17% below national
90 Richmond, VA $64,750 18% below national
91 Eugene-Springfield, OR $64,670 18% below national
92 Wichita, KS $64,490 18% below national
93 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $64,470 18% below national
94 York-Hanover, PA $64,320 18% below national
95 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $64,150 18% below national
96 Lincoln, NE $62,730 20% below national
97 Reading, PA $62,560 20% below national
98 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $62,430 21% below national
99 Binghamton, NY $62,420 21% below national
100 Redding, CA $61,690 22% below national
101 Glens Falls, NY $61,050 22% below national
102 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $60,230 23% below national
103 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $57,320 27% below national
104 Lubbock, TX $54,470 31% below national
105 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $54,380 31% below national
106 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $53,640 32% below national
107 Springfield, MO $51,090 35% below national
108 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $50,060 36% below national
109 Baton Rouge, LA $46,590 41% below national
110 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $43,490 45% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($78,620 here) and reported employment (28,250 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators make?
The median annual salary for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators is $78,620 ($37.80/hour). The salary range spans from $50,590 at the 10th percentile to $125,390 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $78,620, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay is higher than 71% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators the most?
Illinois pays the highest median salary for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators at $115,780/year, which is +47% above the national median.
What education do Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators need?
BLS assigns Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Long-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators a good career?
Employment for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 3,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay vary by state?
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Illinois at $115,780/year, while Louisiana pays the least at $47,750/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $129,930/year. BLS reports a median for 110 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $101,150/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Illinois leads at $115,780/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.