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.
- Tasks
- 25 tasks20 core, 5 supplemental
- Family
- ProductionOne of its 114 occupations
- Code
- 51-8021.00SOC 2018: 51-8021
What the work is made of
20 core tasks and 5 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.
Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all
- Task 1. 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.Core taskTask 10468Rated by 66 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 2. 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.Core taskTask 10471Rated by 64 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 3. Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.Core taskTask 10472Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 4. Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.Core taskTask 10475Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 5. Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.Core taskTask 10469Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 6. Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.Core taskTask 10476Rated by 66 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 7. Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.Core taskTask 10470Rated by 63 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 8. 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.Core taskTask 10474Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 9. Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.Core taskTask 10478Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 10. Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.Core taskTask 10481Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 11. Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.Core taskTask 10477Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 12. Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.Core taskTask 10479Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 13. Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.Core taskTask 10483Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 14. Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.Core taskTask 10486Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 15. Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.Core taskTask 10485Rated by 64 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 16. Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.Core taskTask 10482Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 17. Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations.Core taskTask 10489Rated by 66 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 18. Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.Core taskTask 10484Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 19. Check the air quality of ventilation systems and make adjustments to ensure compliance with mandated safety codes.Core taskTask 10480Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 20. Provide assistance to plumbers in repairing or replacing water, sewer, or waste lines, and in daily maintenance activities.Core taskTask 10487Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 21. Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.Supplemental taskTask 10473Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 22. Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.Supplemental taskTask 10488Rated by 64 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 23. Investigate and report on accidents.Supplemental taskTask 10491Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 24. Operate mechanical hoppers and provide assistance in their adjustment and repair.Supplemental taskTask 10492Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
- Task 25. Ignite fuel in burners, using torches or flames.Supplemental taskTask 10490Rated by 65 people who do the job, August 2023
Where this comes from
Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.
How we copy and credit sources- Published byO*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
- ClassificationStandard Occupational Classification 2018, 51-8021
- LicenseCC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
- Changed by usNothing.
More in Production
113 other occupations in this family, each with its own page.
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders16 tasks
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers27 tasks
- Assemblers and Fabricators, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Bakers18 tasks
- Biofuels Processing Technicians19 tasks
- Biomass Plant Technicians18 tasks
- Butchers and Meat Cutters11 tasks
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters20 tasks
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders23 tasks
- Chemical Plant and System Operators19 tasks
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders11 tasks
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders29 tasks
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers11 tasks
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators27 tasks
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers15 tasks
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders18 tasks
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders21 tasks
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand18 tasks
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders25 tasks
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic32 tasks
- Dental Laboratory Technicians17 tasks
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic17 tasks
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers16 tasks
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers14 tasks
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers12 tasks
- Etchers and Engravers26 tasks
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic16 tasks
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers17 tasks
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders26 tasks
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers16 tasks
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators16 tasks
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers20 tasks
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders19 tasks
- Food Batchmakers25 tasks
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders17 tasks
- Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic13 tasks
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers13 tasks
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders17 tasks
- Furniture Finishers22 tasks
- Gas Plant Operators19 tasks
- Gem and Diamond Workers14 tasks
- Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers16 tasks
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand17 tasks
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic18 tasks
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic23 tasks
- Helpers--Production Workers30 tasks
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians21 tasks
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers31 tasks
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers29 tasks
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic18 tasks
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers23 tasks
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic14 tasks
- Machinists29 tasks
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers12 tasks
- Medical Appliance Technicians15 tasks
- Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders15 tasks
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic15 tasks
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders20 tasks
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic16 tasks
- Model Makers, Wood14 tasks
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic24 tasks
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic29 tasks
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic21 tasks
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators19 tasks
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians18 tasks
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders20 tasks
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers9 tasks
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders14 tasks
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic15 tasks
- Patternmakers, Wood20 tasks
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers24 tasks
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators27 tasks
- Plant and System Operators, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic33 tasks
- Potters, Manufacturing23 tasks
- Pourers and Casters, Metal16 tasks
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers14 tasks
- Power Plant Operators30 tasks
- Prepress Technicians and Workers15 tasks
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials28 tasks
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers25 tasks
- Printing Press Operators23 tasks
- Production Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic19 tasks
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood22 tasks
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians20 tasks
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders20 tasks
- Sewers, Hand11 tasks
- Sewing Machine Operators26 tasks
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers26 tasks
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders19 tasks
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers14 tasks
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing16 tasks
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters23 tasks
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers22 tasks
- Team Assemblers11 tasks
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders23 tasks
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders18 tasks
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders19 tasks
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders23 tasks
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters17 tasks
- Tire Builders20 tasks
- Tool and Die Makers17 tasks
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners18 tasks
- Upholsterers22 tasks
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators8 tasks
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers30 tasks
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders29 tasks
- Woodworkers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing25 tasks
Use this record
Every task on this page is free to reuse, with credit to O*NET. The code and data behind the record are public.
Partner with us
Fund the next pass, contribute data, or build on the record. Tell us what you have in mind.
Partner with us