Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in Lincoln, NE is $62,730/year ($30.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.58), which stretches that salary to about $68,497 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,141/month, or 27.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $63K get you in Lincoln?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lincoln’s Regional Price Parity (91.58). 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 Lincoln
Pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Lincoln runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,141/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.58 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in metros near Lincoln, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $72K | $78K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $82K | , |
| St. Louis | $76K | $80K |
| Wichita | $64K | $73K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lincoln, NE
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $39K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lincoln?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,141/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Lincoln?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,648/month. At HUD’s $1,141/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Lincoln?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $63K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lincoln compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
Lincoln pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in Lincoln, NE?
The median is $62,730 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,140, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $83,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Lincoln?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,159/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,141/month, which eats 27.4% 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 Lincoln?
Lincoln has a Regional Price Parity of 91.58 (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 $68,497 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.