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Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators - 51-8021.00

O*NET-SOC 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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Auxiliary Operator
  • Boiler Operator
  • Boiler Technician (Boiler Tech)
  • Operating Engineer
  • Operator
  • Plant Utilities Engineer
  • Recovery Boiler Operator
  • Stationary Engineer
  • Stationary Steam Engineer
  • Utilities Operator

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000 Production Occupations
51-8000 Plant and System Operators
51-8020 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
51-8021.00 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • 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.
  • Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
  • Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
  • Check the air quality of ventilation systems and make adjustments to ensure compliance with mandated safety codes.
  • Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.
  • Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.
  • Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.
  • Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.
  • Ignite fuel in burners, using torches or flames.
  • Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.
  • Investigate and report on accidents.
  • Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
  • 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.
  • Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
  • Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
  • Operate mechanical hoppers and provide assistance in their adjustment and repair.
  • 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.
  • Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.
  • Provide assistance to plumbers in repairing or replacing water, sewer, or waste lines, and in daily maintenance activities.
  • Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations.
  • Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.
  • Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.
  • Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
  • Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.
  • Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
  • Assemble electromechanical or hydraulic systems.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Confer with others to resolve production problems or equipment malfunctions.
  • Direct operational or production activities.
  • Exchange information with colleagues.
  • Ignite fuel to activate heating equipment.
  • Inspect production equipment.
  • Investigate accidents to determine causes.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
  • Monitor equipment fluid levels.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
  • Operate energy distribution equipment.
  • Operate energy production equipment.
  • Operate industrial equipment.
  • Operate pumping systems or equipment.
  • Plan production or operational procedures or sequences.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.
  • Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
  • Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Advanced Utilitiesman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Amphibous Command Ship (LCC)/Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Steam Plant Operations (SPO) Qualified (Navy - Enlisted)
  • ARS-50 Class Propulsion Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Automatic Boiler Controls Console Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Automatic Combustion Control Console Operator (General Regulator) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Auxiliary Equipment Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Auxiliary Equipment Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Auxiliary Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Fuels (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Launching and Recovery Equipment (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Maintenance Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Boiler Repairer Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CG 47 Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CG 47 Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CG Smart Ship Engineering Control System Equipment (ECSE) Mechanical Operator and Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Construction Engineering Technician (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Cryogenics Equipment Operator (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Cummins and Steyr Diesel Engines Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Damage Controlman (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • DD-963/DDG-993/CG-47 Class Gas Turbine Elec Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 1000 ZUMWALT Class Integrated Power System (IPS) Electrical Maintenance Technician - Journeyman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 51 FLT I-11 Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 51 FLT I-II Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 51 FLT IIA Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 51-M Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG-51 FLT I-II Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG-51 Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG-M Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Diesel Engine Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Diesel Engine Systems Manager (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Diesel Engine Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Apprentice (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Craftsman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Helper (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Power Production Journeyman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Electrician's Mate (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Electronic Automatic Boiler Controls Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Engineer Equipment Electrical Systems Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Engineer Equipment Maintenance Warrant Officer (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Engineman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Facility Systems Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Facility Systems Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • FFG-7 Class Auxiliaries Mechanical System Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • FFG-7 Class Gas Turbine Elec Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • FFG-7 Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • FFG-7 Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Fireman (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Fireman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Fireman Apprentice (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Fireman Recruit (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Fuels (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Fuels Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Fuels Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Fuels Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Fuels Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Fuels Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Manager (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Mechanical Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Mechanical Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Landing Craft Air Cushion Deck Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCAC Craft Engineer/Assistant Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCS-1 (Freedom Variant) Readiness Control Officer (RCO) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LHA - 6 (AMERICA)/LHD - 8 (MAKIN ISLAND) Class Ship Auxiliary Propulsion System (APS) Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LPD-17 Class Diesel Engine Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LPD-17 Class Engineering Control System (ECS) Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LSD 41/49 Class Colt Pielstick Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LSD-41 Class Propulsion Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinery Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate, Nuclear Power (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinists Mate, Non-Nuclear, Submarine Auxiliary (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Marine Engineering Officer (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Marine Gas Turbine Inspector (MGTI) Candidate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Marine Safety Specialist Engineer (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Material Maintenance Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • MCM Propulsion Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Mechanical Habitability Auxiliary Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Missile And Space Facilities (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Missile And Space Facilities Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Missile And Space Facilities Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Missile And Space Facilities Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Missile And Space Facilities Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Missile Facility Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mobile Utilities Support Equipment Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • MTU 2000 Series Diesel Engine Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Gas Turbine (Electrical) Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Gas Turbine Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Pump Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Valve Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Naval Engineering Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Naval Special Warfare (NSW), Combatant-Craft Assault Support Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Naval Special Warfare (NSW), Combatant-Craft Heavy Support Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Naval Special Warfare (NSW), Combatant-Craft Medium Support Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Naval Special Warfare (NSW), Special Operation Craft Riverine (SOCR) Support Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • PAXMAN Valenta Diesel Engine Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Planning Series - DDG-M Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Prime Power Production Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer (Army - Enlisted)
  • SSN/SSBN Auxiliary Equipment Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • SSN/SSBN Diesel Engine (Fairbanks-Morse) Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Plant Auxiliary Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Plant Auxiliary Systems Manager (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Plant Auxiliary Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Submarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Submarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Submarine Reactor Controls Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Submarine Reactor Controls Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surface Propulsion Plant Electrical Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surface Propulsion Plant Electrical Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surface Reactor Controls Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surface Reactor Controls Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Tactical Power Generation Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Torpedoman's Mate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Unit Supply Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Utilities Chief (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Utilitiesman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Water Support Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Watercraft Engineer (Army - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic (Existing Title: Boiler Operator)
  • Firer, Marine (Alternate Title: Fireman, Oiler & Watertender ) (Water Transportation)
  • Stationary Engineer-Power House (Existing Title: Stationary Engineer)

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Air-Compressor Operator
  • Boiler Operator
  • Boiler-Operator Helper
  • Boiler-Room Helper
  • Firer, Low Pressure
  • Firer, Marine
  • Firer, Retort
  • Gas-Engine Operator
  • Humidifier Attendant
  • Refrigerating Engineer
  • Stationary Engineer
  • Stationary-Engineer Apprentice