Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in Fargo, ND-MN is $66,760/year ($32.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.87), which stretches that salary to about $73,468 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,112/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $67K get you in Fargo?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fargo’s Regional Price Parity (90.87). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in Fargo
Pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Fargo runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,112/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.87 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Fargo can be a reasonable trade-off for stationary engineers and boiler operatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in metros near Fargo, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $74K | $86K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $77K | $73K |
| Duluth | $75K | $85K |
| Rochester | $72K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fargo, ND-MN
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $116K | +47% | 1,680 |
| Wyoming | $112K | +42% | 100 |
| Hawaii | $103K | +32% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $95K | +21% | 270 |
| New York | $94K | +20% | 4,480 |
| Washington | $92K | +16% | 520 |
| California | $91K | +15% | 5,840 |
| District of Columbia | $90K | +15% | 620 |
| Alaska | $88K | +12% | 90 |
| Maryland | $85K | +8% | 850 |
| Michigan | $83K | +5% | 490 |
| Colorado | $81K | +3% | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $81K | +3% | 530 |
| Nevada | $79K | +1% | 60 |
| Montana | $78K | -1% | 110 |
| Delaware | $78K | -1% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $77K | -3% | 1,400 |
| Utah | $76K | -3% | 110 |
| Minnesota | $76K | -4% | 1,440 |
| Ohio | $75K | -4% | 760 |
| Arizona | $75K | -4% | 80 |
| New Mexico | $74K | -5% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $73K | -7% | 1,730 |
| South Carolina | $73K | -8% | 170 |
| Missouri | $73K | -8% | 380 |
| Tennessee | $72K | -8% | 370 |
| Georgia | $71K | -10% | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $68K | -13% | 180 |
| Vermont | $68K | -13% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $68K | -13% | 90 |
| Oregon | $68K | -14% | 330 |
| Indiana | $68K | -14% | 290 |
| Iowa | $67K | -14% | 190 |
| Kentucky | $67K | -15% | 90 |
| North Dakota | $67K | -15% | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -16% | 60 |
| Florida | $65K | -17% | 170 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -17% | 290 |
| Kansas | $64K | -18% | 120 |
| Idaho | $64K | -18% | 120 |
| Virginia | $64K | -18% | 350 |
| Texas | $64K | -19% | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $63K | -19% | 60 |
| Maine | $63K | -20% | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | -22% | 270 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -23% | 220 |
| Arkansas | $58K | -26% | 200 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -32% | 200 |
| Alabama | $53K | -32% | 220 |
| West Virginia | $53K | -32% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -39% | 290 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track stationary engineers and boiler operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fargo numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fargo?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,112/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Fargo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,121/month. At HUD’s $1,112/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Fargo?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $67K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Fargo compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
Fargo pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The median is $66,760 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,010, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $83,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Fargo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,504/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,112/month, which eats 24.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a stationary engineers and boiler operators salary go in Fargo?
Fargo has a Regional Price Parity of 90.87 (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 $73,468 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.