Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators: Job Description
Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.
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The Daily Work of Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of stationary engineers and boiler operators include:
- Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
- Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
- Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
- Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
- Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
- Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
- Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
- Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
Skills and Knowledge
Top stationary engineers and boiler operators draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Air Compressor Engineer
- Air Compressor Operator
- Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer)
- Air Plant Engineer
- Auxiliary Operator
- Blowing Engineer
- Boiler Engineer
- Boiler Fireman
Job Outlook
There are about 404,123 stationary engineers and boiler operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $35,910 |
| Hourly median | $17.26 |
| 10th percentile | $21,885 |
| 25th percentile | $28,897 |
| 75th percentile | $42,923 |
| 90th percentile | $49,936 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $112,230 |
| Wyoming | $110,380 |
| Hawaii | $100,200 |
| New York | $91,790 |
| Connecticut | $90,420 |
| Washington | $89,170 |
| District of Columbia | $89,160 |
| Alaska | $87,010 |
| Maryland | $82,960 |
| California | $78,490 |
| Michigan | $78,370 |
| Delaware | $78,280 |
| Massachusetts | $76,850 |
| Nevada | $76,630 |
| New Jersey | $74,620 |
| Colorado | $73,900 |
| Minnesota | $73,560 |
| Arizona | $72,820 |
| New Hampshire | $72,360 |
| Ohio | $72,070 |
| Indiana | $69,580 |
| Utah | $69,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,290 |
| Florida | $69,250 |
| Georgia | $67,930 |
| Montana | $67,130 |
| Kentucky | $66,630 |
| South Dakota | $66,000 |
| Oklahoma | $65,900 |
| Iowa | $65,380 |
| Oregon | $65,340 |
| Virginia | $64,970 |
| Texas | $64,050 |
| Nebraska | $63,680 |
| Missouri | $63,560 |
| North Dakota | $62,760 |
| Rhode Island | $62,650 |
| Kansas | $62,460 |
| Idaho | $62,430 |
| Wisconsin | $62,010 |
| Maine | $61,300 |
| South Carolina | $59,450 |
| North Carolina | $58,280 |
| Arkansas | $56,180 |
| Vermont | $54,490 |
| Tennessee | $54,250 |
| Mississippi | $51,960 |
| New Mexico | $49,140 |
| Alabama | $47,460 |
| Louisiana | $46,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,240 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for stationary engineers and boiler operators shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $92,358 | 10.8% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,924 | 28.5% | 1.99 |
| Far Western US | $78,924 | 29.7% | 2.00 |
| Rocky Mountains | $75,190 | 3.4% | 1.04 |
| New England | $73,429 | 4.3% | 1.14 |
| Plains States | $69,197 | 9.1% | 1.90 |
| Southwest | $64,506 | 4.2% | 0.36 |
| Southeast | $57,343 | 9.8% | 0.59 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $124,120 | 1,290 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $119,310 | 330 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $119,310 | 110 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $112,230 | 1,170 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $104,610 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $103,880 | 3,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $103,540 | 290 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $101,980 | 60 |
Which Industries Hire Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
The bulk of stationary engineers and boiler operators are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 6,370 | $78,950 |
| Manufacturing | 5,270 | $68,490 |
| Educational Services | 4,630 | $72,370 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 3,600 | $50,920 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,820 | $77,950 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 660 | $94,500 |
| Utilities | 610 | $102,490 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 370 | $51,930 |
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators work in the following industries:
Software Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Use
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for stationary engineers and boiler operators reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Entry-level stationary engineers and boiler operators positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Mechanical Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (Supplemental)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Primary-Short)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (Supplemental)
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8021.00 (Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators).
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