Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in Alabama is $53,470/year ($25.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $60,514 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in Alabama?
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Alabama runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track stationary engineers and boiler operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 30.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,290/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is stationary engineers and boiler operator a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $53K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
Alabama pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in Alabama?
The median is $53,470 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,160, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $78,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,541/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 30.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a stationary engineers and boiler operators salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median stationary engineers and boiler operators salary is worth about $60,514 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do stationary engineers and boiler operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.