Stationary engineers and boiler operators
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Stationary engineers and boiler operators in the United States earn a median salary of $78,620 per year — about $38 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 33K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +2%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical maintenance, manual repairs, and hands-on troubleshooting of heavy mechanical equipment in unpredictable physical environments. While AI and automated control systems can enhance monitoring and data logging, they cannot perform the physical tasks of overhauling valves, lubricating parts, or crawling inside boilers for inspections.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, ILBEST VALUE | $117,590 | Below avg (92.7) | $126,789 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,170 | Above avg (108.5) | $113,543 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,930 | Above avg (115.6) | $112,384 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $115,780 | Above avg (103.6) | $111,762 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,170 | Above avg (110.4) | $111,544 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,380 | Average (100.1) | $103,298 |
| El Centro, CA | $96,150 | Below avg (95.2) | $101,025 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $112,250 | Above avg (111.1) | $101,005 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $103,690 | Above avg (105.1) | $98,669 |
| Lima, OH | $85,930 | Below avg (89.7) | $95,830 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $85,180 | Below avg (89.1) | $95,623 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $99,840 | Above avg (106.7) | $93,597 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $94,100 | Average (100.9) | $93,274 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $104,810 | Above avg (112.6) | $93,112 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $103,060 | Above avg (111.0) | $92,879 |