SOC 51-8021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Median pay for this occupation in Detroit, MI comes to $87,700 a year, ahead of the national median of $78,620 by 11.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Detroit, MI comes to $87,700 a year, ahead of the national median of $78,620 by 11.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $79,660 and $92,230. The lowest tenth earn under $61,060, while the highest tenth earn more than $92,820.
Employment stands at 220, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 144th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,060 | −22.3% |
| 25th | $79,660 | +1.3% |
| Median (50th) | $87,700 | +11.5% |
| 75th | $92,230 | +17.3% |
| 90th | $92,820 | +18.1% |
| Mean | $83,300 | +6.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $87,700 goes as far as $91,164 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$87,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,164US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $87,700 a year, 11.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,060 to $92,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $87,700, or $42.17 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $78,620, so pay in Detroit, MI is 11.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Detroit, MI earns more than $92,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,060 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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