Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $160,750 or more. The middle half of stationary engineers and boiler operators in San Jose earn between $86,400 and $148,280.
- $64K10th
- $86K25th
- $123KMedian
- $148K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,020 | $9,835 | $56.74 |
| Median | $123,170 | $10,264 | $59.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,400 | $7,200 | $41.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $148,280 | $12,357 | $71.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Stationary engineers and boiler operators in San Jose earn 30% more than the California average ($91,010) and 41% more than the U.S. average ($83,960). At the median the gap is +57% against the U.S. median of $78,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $118,020 | $123,170 | $63,990 | $160,750 | 210 |
| 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 Jose
On the average salary of $118,020, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $84,973 a year, or $7,081 a month and $3,268 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 Jose a good place for stationary engineers and boiler operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $118,020 buys what about $106,880 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 13.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 2nd 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
- Oxnard$85,230
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 Jose: questions
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make an hour in San Jose?
$56.74 an hour on average, and $59.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the stationary engineers and boiler operators take-home pay in San Jose?
About $84,973 a year ($7,081 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,020. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do stationary engineers and boiler operators earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% more 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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