Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in California is $90,650/year ($43.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $85,406 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $91K get you in California?
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for stationary engineers and boiler operators, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 43.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary by metro in California
18 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $130K | +43% | 980 |
| Vallejo | $123K | +36% | 110 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $123K | +36% | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $104K | +14% | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $100K | +10% | 520 |
| El Centro | $96K | +6% | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $94K | +4% | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $92K | +2% | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $87K | -4% | 370 |
| Fresno | $87K | -4% | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $86K | -5% | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $77K | -15% | 450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $74K | -18% | 1,980 |
| Napa | $69K | -24% | 90 |
| Salinas | $66K | -27% | 120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $64K | -29% | 70 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $64K | -29% | 60 |
| Redding | $62K | -32% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 18 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 43.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,917/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 85% 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 California?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $91K here vs. $79K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
California pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in California?
The median is $90,650 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,610, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $132,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,633/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 43.9% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median stationary engineers and boiler operators salary is worth about $85,406 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.