What is the best state to be a stationary engineers and boiler operators?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a stationary engineers and boiler operators: a BLS median of $111,920 is worth $120,745 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 164.5 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Illinois has the highest headline BLS median for a stationary engineers and boiler operators at $115,780, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 150.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

Best States to Be a Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a stationary engineers and boiler operators salary goes furthest in Wyoming — a $111,920 BLS median worth $120,745 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 164.5).

Which US states are best for a stationary engineers and boiler operators after cost of living and tax?

For a stationary engineers and boiler operators, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Wyoming #1: a $111,920 BLS median becomes $120,745 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 164.5). Louisiana ranks last ($52,935, index 72.1). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Wyoming ranks #1 of 51 states for a stationary engineers and boiler operators. Index 100 = the average state; 164.5 means pay goes 64.5% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

164.5

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Wyoming	$111,920	—	92.7	$120,745	164.5
2	Illinois	$115,780	$5,590	100.0	$110,236	150.2
3	Hawaii	$103,400	$6,328	110.0	$88,286	120.3
4	Connecticut	$94,870	$3,643	103.6	$88,049	119.9
5	Alaska	$88,330	—	102.4	$86,294	117.5
6	Washington	$91,530	—	107.0	$85,532	116.5
7	New York	$94,070	$4,596	107.9	$82,907	112.9
8	Michigan	$82,800	$3,273	96.2	$82,654	112.6
9	Ohio	$75,470	$1,293	92.8	$79,954	108.9
10	Nevada	$79,110	—	100.0	$79,127	107.8
11	Tennessee	$72,470	—	91.9	$78,883	107.5
12	Montana	$77,690	$3,446	94.6	$78,445	106.9
13	New Mexico	$74,480	$2,387	92.2	$78,182	106.5
14	California	$90,650	$4,309	110.7	$77,982	106.2
15	District of Columbia	$90,470	$4,815	109.9	$77,938	106.2
16	Maryland	$85,240	$3,716	105.0	$77,672	105.8
17	Missouri	$72,620	$2,532	90.8	$77,175	105.1
18	South Dakota	$68,090	—	88.6	$76,863	104.7
19	Colorado	$81,310	$2,918	103.1	$76,071	103.6
20	North Dakota	$66,760	$64	89.0	$74,974	102.1
21	Oklahoma	$68,450	$2,714	87.8	$74,834	101.9
22	South Carolina	$72,650	$2,897	93.7	$74,404	101.4
23	Delaware	$77,630	$3,783	99.8	$73,989	100.8
24	Iowa	$67,450	$2,523	87.8	$73,981	100.8
25	Utah	$76,490	$3,480	98.9	$73,849	100.6
26	Arizona	$75,410	$1,410	100.7	$73,502	100.1
27	Minnesota	$75,850	$3,669	98.6	$73,190	99.7
28	Massachusetts	$80,800	$3,820	105.8	$72,790	99.2
29	Pennsylvania	$72,900	$2,238	97.6	$72,420	98.6
30	Kentucky	$66,770	$2,540	90.2	$71,241	97.0
31	Indiana	$67,560	$1,997	93.3	$70,250	95.7
32	Georgia	$70,640	$3,161	96.3	$70,077	95.5
33	Nebraska	$64,930	$2,280	90.1	$69,531	94.7
34	Kansas	$64,490	$2,799	90.1	$68,494	93.3
35	New Jersey	$76,560	$2,687	108.8	$67,895	92.5
36	Vermont	$68,400	$2,133	98.0	$67,649	92.2
37	Texas	$63,810	—	97.1	$65,745	89.6
38	Idaho	$64,460	$2,551	95.5	$64,831	88.3
39	Arkansas	$58,000	$2,054	86.9	$64,353	87.7
40	New Hampshire	$66,180	—	104.2	$63,534	86.5
41	Florida	$65,040	—	103.4	$62,893	85.7
42	Wisconsin	$61,170	$2,090	94.1	$62,788	85.5
43	North Carolina	$60,860	$2,045	94.3	$62,353	84.9
44	Maine	$62,910	$2,632	97.0	$62,111	84.6
45	Virginia	$64,150	$2,889	101.1	$60,592	82.5
46	Oregon	$67,630	$5,114	103.4	$60,484	82.4
47	Rhode Island	$63,330	$1,775	102.3	$60,183	82.0
48	Mississippi	$53,640	$1,555	87.0	$59,900	81.6
49	West Virginia	$53,340	$1,669	89.5	$57,735	78.6
50	Alabama	$53,470	$2,409	88.8	$57,487	78.3
51	Louisiana	$47,750	$1,058	88.2	$52,935	72.1

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Wyoming, a $111,920 salary is worth about $120,745 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $111,920 · BEA cost of living 92.7 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $126,341, a $5,595 gain over Wyoming.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$126,341	88.6
2	Arkansas	$123,716	86.9
3	Louisiana	$123,077	88.2
4	Mississippi	$123,050	87.0
5	Iowa	$122,681	87.8
6	North Dakota	$122,665	89.0
7	Tennessee	$121,824	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$121,357	87.8
9	Wyoming	$120,745	92.7
10	Alabama	$119,703	88.8
11	Kentucky	$119,171	90.2
12	West Virginia	$119,027	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a stationary engineers and boiler operators?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a stationary engineers and boiler operators: a BLS median of $111,920 is worth $120,745 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 164.5 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Illinois has the highest headline BLS median for a stationary engineers and boiler operators at $115,780, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 150.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a stationary engineers and boiler operators salary go least far?: Louisiana ranks last of 51 states for a stationary engineers and boiler operators: a $47,750 BLS median is worth only $52,935 after tax and cost of living (index 72.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a stationary engineers and boiler operators is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.