Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
SOC Code: 51-8021 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
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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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $88,171 | $105,414 | $122,658 | $139,901 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $73,632 | $92,643 | $111,654 | $130,666 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,779 | $82,722 | $105,664 | $128,606 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $65,187 | $86,258 | $107,328 | $128,398 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,989 | $81,141 | $103,272 | $125,424 |
| Vallejo, CA | $73,944 | $90,750 | $107,536 | $124,342 |
| Decatur, IL | $67,496 | $86,195 | $104,894 | $123,594 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $69,971 | $87,693 | $105,414 | $123,136 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $48,589 | $72,758 | $96,907 | $121,077 |
| Peoria, IL | $71,282 | $87,526 | $103,792 | $120,037 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 4.0 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.2 | |
| Repairing | 3.2 | |
| Active Listening | 3.2 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.2 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.2 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Mechanical | 4.1 |
| Chemistry | 3.4 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.3 |
| Physics | 3.2 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.2 |
| English Language | 3.1 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college | 47.1% |
| High school diploma | 37.8% |
| Associate's degree | 10.5% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 4.5% |
Typical Tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software Building management system software Computerized maintenance management system CMMS Database software Email software Graphics software Operating system software Operational Data Store ODS software Spreadsheet software
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