Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,260 or more. The middle half of stationary engineers and boiler operators in Chicago earn between $97,540 and $123,780.
- $78K10th
- $98K25th
- $116KMedian
- $124K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,200 | $9,183 | $52.98 |
| Median | $115,780 | $9,648 | $55.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,540 | $8,128 | $46.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,780 | $10,315 | $59.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $110,200, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $81,042 a year, or $6,753 a month and $3,117 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $83,080 | $6,923 |
| Working in IL | $81,042 | $6,753 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for stationary engineers and boiler operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $110,200 buys what about $106,376 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($114,300).
- Springfield$114,300
- Chicago$110,200
All Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators salaries in Illinois
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 Chicago: questions
How much do stationary engineers and boiler operators make an hour in Chicago?
$52.98 an hour on average, and $55.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the stationary engineers and boiler operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $81,042 a year ($6,753 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,200.
Do stationary engineers and boiler operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($88,544).
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.48, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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