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Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Go Back to List
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.
 Technology used in this occupation:
 
  • Facilities management software
  •  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.
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  • Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
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  • Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
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  • 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.
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  • Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
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  • Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.
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  • 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.
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  • Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
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  • Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
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  • Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
  •  Skills
     
  • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
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  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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  • Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
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  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  •  Knowledge
     
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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  • Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
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  • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
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  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
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  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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  • Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
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     Education & Training
      Education:   Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
      Related Experience:   Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
      View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.
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     Wage Information
     
    Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range 
    Annual  Hourly 
    Statewide $86,317.00 $41.49  $31.30  $34.77 - $49.17 
    Bridgeport/Stamford $89,566.00 $43.06  $35.21  $40.97 - $49.17 
    Hartford $86,928.00 $41.79  $30.86  $33.09 - $49.43 
    New Haven $90,672.00 $43.59  $35.45  $39.73 - $49.32 
    New London/Norwich $78,145.00 $37.57  $28.43  $30.94 - $43.13 
     Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 )
    Average Annual Job Openings:   28
      Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.
    ONET Resource Center Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
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