How Much Does a Stationary Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$78,620
Stationary engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $78,620 a year, or $37.80 an hour. Half of stationary engineers earn more than $78,620 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $125,390.
Pay percentiles for stationary engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24.32 | $50,590 |
| 25th | $30.37 | $63,160 |
| 50th (median) | $37.80 | $78,620 |
| 75th | $48.63 | $101,150 |
| 90th | $60.28 | $125,390 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (SOC 51-8021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for stationary engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $115,780 | $55.66 | +47% |
| Wyoming | $111,920 | $53.81 | +42% |
| Hawaii | $103,400 | $49.71 | +32% |
| Connecticut | $94,870 | $45.61 | +21% |
| New York | $94,070 | $45.22 | +20% |
| Washington | $91,530 | $44.00 | +16% |
| California | $90,650 | $43.58 | +15% |
| District of Columbia | $90,470 | $43.50 | +15% |
| Alaska | $88,330 | $42.47 | +12% |
| Maryland | $85,240 | $40.98 | +8% |
| United States | $78,620 | $37.80 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many stationary engineers are there?
BLS counts about 28,250 stationary engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators”. The most jobs are in California (5,840), New York (4,480) and Pennsylvania (1,730).
The mean (average) annual wage is $83,960, higher than the median of $78,620.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,552
- Biweekly
- $3,024
- Weekly
- $1,512
- Daily (8 hours)
- $302
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do stationary engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for stationary engineers is $37.80. The middle 50% earn between $30.37 and $48.63 an hour.
Which state pays stationary engineers the most?
Illinois has the highest median wage for stationary engineers at $115,780, +47% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for stationary engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of stationary engineers earn less than $50,590 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.