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The average salary for a boiler operator in the United States is $49,782 annually, or around $24 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, industry, and experience level. For instance, boiler operators in the manufacturing sector tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in other sectors.
Experience plays a significant role in determining salary. Entry-level boiler operators may start at around $40,000 per year, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $60,000 annually.
States like California and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for boiler operators, reflecting the demand for skilled workers in these regions. Additionally, industries such as oil and gas often provide competitive compensation packages.
Understanding the salary landscape for boiler operators helps job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths. By considering factors like location and experience, prospective employees can better gauge their earning potential.
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The average boiler operator salary in New York, California, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average boiler operator salary states are New Mexico, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $58,726 | $28.23 |
| 2 | Nevada | $59,949 | $28.82 |
| 3 | Alaska | $64,902 | $31.20 |
| 4 | Idaho | $61,315 | $29.48 |
| 5 | Vermont | $58,666 | $28.20 |
| 6 | New York | $68,495 | $32.93 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $58,540 | $28.14 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $58,587 | $28.17 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $54,006 | $25.96 |
| 10 | Iowa | $54,801 | $26.35 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $56,070 | $26.96 |
| 12 | Delaware | $57,327 | $27.56 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $54,155 | $26.04 |
| 14 | Maine | $56,609 | $27.22 |
| 15 | Illinois | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| 16 | Kansas | $54,934 | $26.41 |
| 17 | Montana | $53,689 | $25.81 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $53,274 | $25.61 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $56,381 | $27.11 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $58,662 | $28.20 |
| 21 | California | $65,392 | $31.44 |
| 22 | Washington | $62,026 | $29.82 |
| 23 | Oregon | $57,527 | $27.66 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $55,748 | $26.80 |
| 25 | Indiana | $52,696 | $25.33 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $51,433 | $24.73 |
| 27 | Maryland | $56,686 | $27.25 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $49,409 | $23.75 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $50,106 | $24.09 |
| 30 | Ohio | $52,466 | $25.22 |
| 31 | Utah | $51,627 | $24.82 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $48,252 | $23.20 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $42,668 | $20.51 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $48,446 | $23.29 |
| 36 | Colorado | $50,695 | $24.37 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,610 | $22.89 |
| 38 | Missouri | $47,172 | $22.68 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $43,785 | $21.05 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $39,052 | $18.77 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $40,061 | $19.26 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $42,508 | $20.44 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $39,727 | $19.10 |
| 44 | Virginia | $42,066 | $20.22 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,727 | $17.66 |
| 46 | Michigan | $40,679 | $19.56 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $36,936 | $17.76 |
| 48 | Georgia | $40,879 | $19.65 |
| 49 | Florida | $40,023 | $19.24 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $32,452 | $15.60 |
| 51 | Texas | $36,420 | $17.51 |
The highest-paying cities for boiler operators are Ithaca, NY, Lakewood, WA, and Worcester, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ithaca, NY | $69,324 | $33.33 |
| 2 | Lakewood, WA | $62,106 | $29.86 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $58,679 | $28.21 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,784 | $26.82 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $54,416 | $26.16 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $53,634 | $25.79 |
| 7 | West Fargo, ND | $52,927 | $25.45 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $51,586 | $24.80 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $50,823 | $24.43 |
| 10 | La Vergne, TN | $43,881 | $21.10 |
| 11 | Southaven, MS | $42,943 | $20.65 |
| 12 | Charlottesville, VA | $42,173 | $20.28 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $37,684 | $18.12 |
| 14 | Birmingham, AL | $36,682 | $17.64 |
| 15 | Little Rock, AR | $32,177 | $15.47 |
A boiler operator's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $49,782 | $4,149 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of boiler operators are watch engineer, shift engineer, and air plant engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift Engineer | $91,237 | $7,603 | $43.86 | 31,693 |
| Watch Engineer | $91,906 | $7,659 | $44.19 | 4,923 |
| Stationary Engineer | $69,163 | $5,764 | $33.25 | 5,010 |
| Engine Room Operator | $37,546 | $3,129 | $18.05 | 61,977 |
| Control Room Operator | $43,733 | $3,644 | $21.03 | 89,096 |
| Chemical Operator | $40,526 | $3,377 | $19.48 | 36,522 |
Top companies hiring boiler operators now:
Boiler operator salaries at Southeastern Med and St. Mary's Health Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average boiler operator salary at companies like Anheuser-Busch and CovenantHealth are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeastern Med | $75,088 | $36.10 |
| 2 | St. Mary's Health Inc. | $73,646 | $35.41 |
| 3 | Anheuser-Busch | $73,484 | $35.33 |
| 4 | CovenantHealth | $71,977 | $34.60 |
| 5 | MaineGeneral Health | $71,189 | $34.23 |
| 6 | St. Peter's Health Partners | $70,070 | $33.69 |
| 7 | Bon Secours Community Hospital | $67,968 | $32.68 |
| 8 | Beaumont Health | $67,365 | $32.39 |
| 9 | Allison Transmission | $66,226 | $31.84 |
| 10 | Xerox | $65,045 | $31.27 |
| 11 | B&G Foods | $64,085 | $30.81 |
| 12 | Stimson Lumber | $63,816 | $30.68 |
| 13 | Michelin | $63,545 | $30.55 |
| 14 | Idaho Forest Group | $61,989 | $29.80 |
| 15 | Bridgestone | $61,889 | $29.75 |
| 16 | Merck | $61,557 | $29.59 |
| 17 | OSF HealthCare | $61,195 | $29.42 |
| 18 | Covanta | $60,805 | $29.23 |
| 19 | Mercy Health | $60,704 | $29.18 |
| 20 | Ziegler CAT | $59,873 | $28.79 |
The average boiler operator salary has risen by $8,936 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average boiler operator earned $40,846 annually, but today, they earn $49,782 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for boiler operators over the last decade.
Compare boiler operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare boiler operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,800 | $23.93 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $47,800 | $23.00 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $46,500 | $22.36 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $46,100 | $22.16 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $45,700 | $21.98 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Mutual | Hvac Boiler & Building Systems OPS | Milwaukee, WI | 06/30/2025 | $58,686 |
| Abbott Laboratories | Boiler Operator-2Nd or 3Rd Shift | Columbus, OH | 06/29/2025 | $42,992 |
| Cargill, Inc. | Boiler Operator | West Fargo, ND | 06/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Essentia Health | Boiler Operator | Duluth, MN | 06/28/2025 | $55,159 |
| Dignity Health | Boiler Operator | Bakersfield, CA | 06/27/2025 | $81,539 |
| Kao Brands | Boiler Operator | Cincinnati, OH | 06/27/2025 | $58,436 |
| Vlaunchu | Boiler Operator | Syracuse, NY | 06/27/2025 | $70,000 |
| Azuria Water Solutions | Boiler Operator | Tampa, FL | 06/26/2025 | $50,088 |
| Aegion Corp | Boiler Operator (27755987) | Tampa, FL | 06/25/2025 | $50,088 |
| Villanova University | Boiler Operator | Kane, PA | 06/25/2025 | $67,577 |
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