Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in South Carolina is $72,650/year ($34.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $77,976 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in South Carolina?
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Stationary engineers and boiler operators pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary by metro in South Carolina
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $72K | -1% | 30 |
| Columbia | $65K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track stationary engineers and boiler operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 26.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,200/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
South Carolina pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — below the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in South Carolina?
The median is $72,650 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,330, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $89,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,706/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 26.8% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $77,976 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.