Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in Iowa is $67,450/year ($32.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $75,906 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Iowa?
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Iowa runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for stationary engineers and boiler operatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $85K | +26% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,986/month. At HUD’s $1,064/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 Iowa?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $67K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
Iowa pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in Iowa?
The median is $67,450 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,760, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $76,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 24.4% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $75,906 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.