Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in Tennessee is $72,470/year ($34.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $80,720 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Tennessee?
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Stationary engineers and boiler operators pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary by metro in Tennessee
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $74K | +3% | 40 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $74K | +2% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track stationary engineers and boiler operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,062/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
Tennessee pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in Tennessee?
The median is $72,470 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,360, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $93,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 24.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $80,720 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.