NorthStar

Occupations/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.

Certificate or two-year

Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.

AI automation risk

32%

More resilient

Human characteristics

71%

Strong human-characteristic mix

Task orientation

64%

Higher automation risk

A day in this job

  • Mostly routine

    Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.

  • Mostly routine

    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.

  • Mostly routine

    Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.

The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.

Core tasks

  1. 01Operate 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.
  2. 02Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
  3. 03Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
  4. 04Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
  5. 05Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
  6. 06Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.

Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)

  • Repeating same tasks3.94
  • Degree of automation2.73
  • Time sitting2.59
  • Originality (ability)2.38
  • Conflict situations3.26
  • Hands-on objects/tools3.55
  • Outdoors / weather4.26
  • Disease exposure2.35
  • Decision freedom4.21

Top abilities

  • Near Vision3.88
  • Problem Sensitivity3.75
  • Oral Comprehension3.62
  • Oral Expression3.50
  • Perceptual Speed3.25
  • Information Ordering3.25
  • Inductive Reasoning3.25
  • Deductive Reasoning3.25

Essential skills

  • Reading Comprehension3.12
  • Active Listening3.25
  • Writing2.88
  • Speaking3.00
  • Mathematics2.12
  • Science2.25
  • Critical Thinking3.25
  • Active Learning3.12
  • Learning Strategies2.12
  • Monitoring3.12

CIP matches

99.9999NO MATCH

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