# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stationary-engineers-and-boiler-operators
- SOC code: 51-8021.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $78,620 (10th percentile $50,590, 90th percentile $125,390)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.1%
- Openings a year: 3,200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 36 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 4 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 86/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 85/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 77/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Processing Information (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 72/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Chemistry, Public Safety and Security, Physics, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Production and Processing, Building and Construction

## Also called

Air Compressor Engineer, Air Compressor Operator, Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer), Air Plant Engineer, Auxiliary Operator, Blowing Engineer, Boiler Engineer, Boiler Fireman, Boiler Operator, Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic

## Related careers

- [Power Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-plant-operators): $102,040 median pay
- [Biomass Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biomass-plant-technicians): $102,040 median pay
- [Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/control-and-valve-installers-and-repairers-except-mechanical-door): $74,340 median pay
- [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-compressor-and-gas-pumping-station-operators): $77,320 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Geothermal Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geothermal-technicians): $49,230 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.