Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,260 or more. The middle half of stationary engineers and boiler operators in San Diego earn between $53,170 and $106,240.
- $48K10th
- $53K25th
- $77KMedian
- $106K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,280 | $6,690 | $38.60 |
| Median | $77,080 | $6,423 | $37.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,170 | $4,431 | $25.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,240 | $8,853 | $51.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Stationary engineers and boiler operators in San Diego earn 12% less than the California average ($91,010) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($83,960). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $78,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $80,280 | $77,080 | $47,690 | $121,260 | 450 |
| California | $91,010 | $90,650 | $48,610 | $132,730 | 5,840 |
| United States | $83,960 | $78,620 | $50,590 | $125,390 | 28,250 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $80,280, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $61,933 a year, or $5,161 a month and $2,382 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for stationary engineers and boiler operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $80,280 buys what about $71,751 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 13th of 18 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($118,680).
- San Francisco$118,680
- San Jose$118,020
- Vallejo$116,550
- Stockton$100,910
- Sacramento$94,810
- Bakersfield$90,270
- El Centro$88,960
- Fresno$87,760
- Riverside$86,170
- San Diego$80,280
All Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for stationary engineers and boiler operators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,680).
- San Francisco, CA$118,680
- San Jose, CA$118,020
- Vallejo, CA$116,550
- Springfield, IL$114,300
- Chicago, IL$110,200
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Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in San Diego: questions
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make an hour in San Diego?
$38.60 an hour on average, and $37.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the stationary engineers and boiler operators take-home pay in San Diego?
About $61,933 a year ($5,161 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,280. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do stationary engineers and boiler operators earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($83,960).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8021; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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