Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Salary
The median pay for a stationary engineers and boiler operators in Wisconsin is $61,170/year ($29.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $64,847 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Wisconsin?
About stationary engineers and boiler operators
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Wisconsin runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary by metro in Wisconsin
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $70K | +14% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stationary engineers and boiler operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for stationary engineers and boiler operators in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new stationary engineers and boiler operators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,062/month. At HUD’s $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $61K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for stationary engineers and boiler operators?
Wisconsin pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make in Wisconsin?
The median is $61,170 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,040, and experienced stationary engineers and boiler operators can clear $78,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,083/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 29.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $64,847 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.