Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for stationary engineers and boiler operators in the U.S. is $78,620 ($37.80 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $78,620
- Mean annual wage
- $83,960
- Median hourly wage
- $37.80
- Employment
- 28,250
28,250 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| 25th percentile | $63,160 | $30.37 |
| Median (50th) | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| 75th percentile | $101,150 | $48.63 |
| 90th percentile | $125,390 | $60.28 |
Highest-paying states for stationary engineers and boiler operators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lowest-paying states
- Louisiana: $47,750 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $53,340 median annual wage
- Alabama: $53,470 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $53,640 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $58,000 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
- Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
- Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.
- Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.
- Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.
- Ignite fuel in burners, using torches or flames.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 6.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 38.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 25.9% |
| Associate's degree | 10.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 12.7% |
| Master's degree | 4.1% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.