Jobs Similar to Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to stationary engineers and boiler operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Hydroelectric Plant Technicians, Geothermal Technicians and Power Plant Operators.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators: $78,620 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydroelectric Plant TechniciansSame group | 84% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Geothermal Technicians | 83% | $49,230Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 3 | Power Plant OperatorsSame group | 82% | $102,040+30% | High school |
| 4 | Wellhead Pumpers | 82% | $69,960−11% | High school |
| 5 | Biomass Plant TechniciansSame group | 81% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 6 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | 81% | $77,320−2% | High school |
| 7 | Nuclear Technicians | 81% | $110,240+40% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 81% | $64,520−18% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 80% | $74,340−5% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 80% | $64,120−18% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Biofuels Processing TechniciansSame group | 80% | $62,470Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 12 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80% | $46,550−41% | High school |
| 13 | Ship Engineers | 79% | $109,530+39% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 79% | $61,810−21% | High school |
| 15 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 79% | $79,870+2% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 79% | $50,140−36% | High school |
| 17 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersSame group | 79% | $96,710+23% | High school |
| 18 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 79% | $44,350−44% | High school |
| 19 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsSame group | 79% | $60,020−24% | High school |
| 20 | Gas Plant OperatorsSame group | 79% | $87,820+12% | High school |
- 1Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
84% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Geothermal Technicians
83% similar · $49,230 (broader group) · High school
- 3Power Plant Operators
82% similar · $102,040 (+30%) · High school · Same group
- 4Wellhead Pumpers
82% similar · $69,960 (−11%) · High school
- 5Biomass Plant Technicians
81% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 6Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
81% similar · $77,320 (−2%) · High school
- 7Nuclear Technicians
81% similar · $110,240 (+40%) · Training or associate
- 8Industrial Machinery Mechanics
81% similar · $64,520 (−18%) · Training or associate
- 9Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
80% similar · $74,340 (−5%) · Training or associate
- 10Wind Turbine Service Technicians
80% similar · $64,120 (−18%) · Training or associate
- 11Biofuels Processing Technicians
80% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 12Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $46,550 (−41%) · High school
- 13Ship Engineers
79% similar · $109,530 (+39%) · Training or associate
- 14Continuous Mining Machine Operators
79% similar · $61,810 (−21%) · High school
- 15Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
79% similar · $79,870 (+2%) · Training or associate
- 16Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $50,140 (−36%) · High school
- 17Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
79% similar · $96,710 (+23%) · High school · Same group
- 18Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
79% similar · $44,350 (−44%) · High school
- 19Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
79% similar · $60,020 (−24%) · High school · Same group
- 20Gas Plant Operators
79% similar · $87,820 (+12%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than stationary engineers and boiler operators.
- Nuclear Technicians81% similar · $110,240 (+40%)
- Ship Engineers79% similar · $109,530 (+39%)
- Power Plant Operators82% similar · $102,040 (+30%)
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers79% similar · $96,710 (+23%)
- Gas Plant Operators79% similar · $87,820 (+12%)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians79% similar · $79,870 (+2%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Geothermal Technicians83% similar · High school
- Power Plant Operators82% similar · High school
- Wellhead Pumpers82% similar · High school
- Biomass Plant Technicians81% similar · High school
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators81% similar · High school
- Biofuels Processing Technicians80% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for stationary engineers and boiler operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where stationary engineers and boiler operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (90)
- Geothermal Technicians (88)
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians (87)
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (86)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (86)
- Wellhead Pumpers (84)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (83)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (82)
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers (82)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (81)
Questions about jobs like stationary engineers and boiler operators
What jobs are most similar to stationary engineers and boiler operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (84% similar), Geothermal Technicians (83% similar), Power Plant Operators (82% similar), Wellhead Pumpers (82% similar) and Biomass Plant Technicians (81% similar).
Which jobs like stationary engineers and boiler operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Technicians ($110,240, +40%; usually training or an associate degree), Ship Engineers ($109,530, +39%; usually training or an associate degree) and Power Plant Operators ($102,040, +30%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with stationary engineers and boiler operators ($78,620). Without more preparation than stationary engineers and boiler operators usually need: Nuclear Technicians, Ship Engineers and Power Plant Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.