National
| Median wages (2008) |
$23.94 hourly, $49,790 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
45,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Slower than average (3% to 6%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
9,000 additional employees |
51-8021.00 - Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Boiler Operator, Stationary Engineer, Operating Engineer, Plant Utilities Engineer, Utility Operator, Fireman, Plant Operator, Stationary Steam Engineer, Boiler Engineer, Boiler Tender
Tasks
- Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment such as pumps, compressors, and air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
- Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
- Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
- 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.
- Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.
- 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.
- Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
- Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
- Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus — Gas brazing equipment; Oxyacetylene welding equipment |
| Pneumatic sanding machines — Descalers; Sandblasters |
| Pressure indicators — Manifold test gauges; Pressure gauges |
| Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers |
| Taps or dies — Dies; Taps |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software; Database software |
| Facilities management software — Building management system software; Computerized maintenance management system CMMS software |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Graphics software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
| 51-2021.00 |
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers |
| 51-4072.00 |
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4122.00 |
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
|
| 51-7041.00 |
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
|
| 51-8013.00 |
Power Plant Operators
|
| 51-8092.00 |
Gas Plant Operators |
| 51-9012.00 |
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
|
| 51-9032.00 |
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-9071.07 |
Precious Metal Workers |
| 51-9196.00 |
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
