How Much Does a Stationary Engineer Make? Stationary Engineer Salary Guide for 2027
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The median stationary engineer salary is $78,620 per year, or $37.80 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. Job board figures land close to that: ZipRecruiter's average is $77,249 a year, and Indeed's posted rates average $39.44 per hour.
Stationary engineer pay still varies widely. Experience, license class, the state and city you work in, and the type of facility you run all move the number, and higher license classes and specialized skills are the main route toward chief engineer pay.
Negotiate Your Offer
Bring the BLS median for your state and metro, along with the 75th percentile if your license class and experience support it. List the plant sizes and equipment types you have run, your license class, and any controls or HVAC skills. Asking soon after earning a higher license class gives the request more weight.
What to Ask For Beyond Wages
Ask about license and exam fees, paid training, pension or retirement contributions, union scale where a union contract applies, overtime and shift differential rules, health coverage, and paid time off.
Job Outlook and Salary Trends for 2027 and Beyond
Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
Jobs (2025) | About 31,200 |
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 3% (about as fast as average), about 3,200 openings a year |
Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
Training | Long-term on-the-job training; apprenticeships usually last 4 years |
BLS projects employment of stationary engineers and boiler operators to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The latest wage figures are for May 2025, and the next BLS release, covering May 2026, is expected in spring 2027, so any stationary engineer salary 2026 or 2027 figure published before then is an estimate or a job board average.
What Is Driving Demand
BLS projects about 3,200 openings a year over the decade and expects many of them to come from the need to replace workers who move to other occupations or leave the labor force, such as to retire. That means openings appear even with modest growth, including senior and chief roles that open when experienced engineers retire.
Automation, Smart Buildings, and AI
Building automation systems, sensors, and software can monitor and adjust many boiler and HVAC functions that once required manual checks. Even so, BLS projects the occupation to grow 3% over the decade, and its training description already includes controls and HVAC balancing. Skill with these systems fits the direction of the work, while licensing rules still require a qualified engineer to run and maintain the equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a stationary engineer make a year?
The median stationary engineer salary is $78,620 a year, according to BLS data for May 2025. The middle 80% earn between $50,590 and $125,390.
How much does a stationary engineer make per hour?
The BLS median is $37.80 an hour. Job postings average $39.44 an hour on Indeed and $37.14 on ZipRecruiter.
What is the entry level stationary engineer salary?
About $50,590 a year at the BLS 10th percentile, or about $24.32 an hour. Indeed's lowest posted rates start around $26.41 an hour.
What does a senior stationary engineer make?
Indeed's posting average for senior stationary engineers is $48.43 an hour, about $100,700 a year at full-time hours, close to the BLS 75th percentile of $101,150.
What is the highest salary a stationary engineer can make?
The top 10% earn more than $125,390, according to BLS. Some employer averages on Indeed reach $149,921 to $160,000, but those come from small posting samples.
Which state pays stationary engineers the most?
Illinois had the highest mean wage in May 2025 at $106,410, followed by Wyoming at $102,500 and New York at $101,070, according to BLS.
Which city pays stationary engineers the most?
San Jose, California, leads Indeed's posted rates at $67.93 an hour. In BLS data, the San Francisco and San Jose metros had the highest medians, at $129,930 and $123,170.
Do stationary engineers make six figures?
Many do. The BLS 75th percentile is $101,150, so roughly the top quarter of stationary engineers earn more than $100,000. The median, $78,620, is below six figures.
Which industries pay stationary engineers the most?
Local government paid the highest mean in May 2025 at $108,470, followed by general hospitals at $91,180. Hotels and schools paid less.
Is a stationary engineer the same as a boiler operator?
BLS groups them into one occupation, stationary engineers and boiler operators. Employers use the titles differently, and duties depend on the size of the plant and the license held.
Do you need a license to be a stationary engineer?
It depends on where you work. Some state and local governments, including Chicago, New York City, and Massachusetts, require licenses in several classes, while other places rely on employer exams. Check with the local licensing board.
Do you need a degree?
No. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with long-term on-the-job training. Some workers complete apprenticeships that usually last 4 years.
Is stationary engineering a good career?
It offers stable pay well above the typical US wage: the $78,620 median is about $27,600 above the all-occupation median of $50,980. BLS projects 3% growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,200 openings a year, though the work can involve heat, noise, and rotating shifts.
How can a stationary engineer increase their salary?
Earn a higher license class, move into hospitals, government, or large facilities, step into chief engineer roles, add HVAC and controls skills, take on overtime and shift work, or relocate to a higher-paying metro.
How much do stationary engineers make in California?
California had a median of $90,650 and a mean of $91,010 in May 2025, with 5,840 jobs, the most of any state. Pay runs higher in the Bay Area, where the San Francisco metro median was $129,930.
Using Stationary Engineer Pay Data to Plan Your Next Move
The median stationary engineer salary is $78,620, and most stationary engineers earn between $50,590 and $125,390, or roughly $26 to $59 an hour in job postings. Location, industry, license class, and seniority drive that spread, with Illinois, New York, and the Bay Area paying the most and hospitals and local government paying above hotels and schools. Dreambound lists training programs by trade and location across the United States. Wage figures here come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025 unless a job board is named.
