Chief Engineer pay range
State of Washington · class code 602N
- Class code
- 602N
- Salary range
- 61
- Pay unit
- Year
- Alternate ranges
- 2
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Chief Engineer is $72,900 to $98,064 per year, spanning every alternate range the plan defines.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 602N.
- The plan defines 2 alternate ranges for this class, so the rate depends on which bargaining unit covers the position.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 61 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 | $82,440 | $84,528 | $86,688 | $88,788 | $91,104 | $93,288 | $95,676 | $98,064 |
| Monthly | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 | $6,870 | $7,044 | $7,224 | $7,399 | $7,592 | $7,774 | $7,973 | $8,172 |
| Hourly | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 | $39.48 | $40.48 | $41.52 | $42.52 | $43.63 | $44.68 | $45.82 | $46.97 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Alternate ranges
| Bargaining unit | Minimum | Maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| As listed | $72,900 | $98,064 | per year |
| Teamsters | $72,900 | $98,064 | per year |
The listing prints a separate range for classes covered by a bargaining agreement. Which one applies depends on the employee's unit.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Supervise the total operation of a central heating steam plant and all auxiliary systems.
Examples of the work
Plan the work of shift personnel and hire, discipline, and evaluate performance therein; Evaluate operating and organizational difficulties and institute corrective measures; Plan equipment downtime for maintenance procedures and assign appropriate crews for follow-through action; Maintain all budget and cost control devices necessary for efficient and economical production of steam, electricity, clean air, and chilled water; Establish and monitor appropriate housekeeping procedures and safety standards of all assigned areas; Monitor daily log of power plants and prepare monthly production and performance reports; Recommend and assist in planning for expansion and improvements of power plant ...
Minimum qualifications
Applicable steam engineer's license and four years' supervisory experience with power plant operations, including feed water systems, coal, gas, and fuel oil fired high-pressure boiler systems and all auxiliary equipment, water chilling systems, high voltage generation and distribution systems and related combustion controls and safety devices. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.