Boiler and Engine Operators

ANZSCO ID 712911

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
620
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
94%
Female Share
1%
Average age
50

Summary

Boiler or Engine Operators operate and maintain stationary engines, boilers, refrigeration and airconditioning systems, and associated mechanical plants.

Specialisations: Airconditioning Plant Operator, Marine Engine Driver, Motorman/woman (Fluids Drilling), Refrigeration Plant Operator.

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Boiler or Engine Operator. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in engineering (mechanical, industrial or maritime).

Tasks

  • Maintains supply of solid, liquid or gas fuel to boiler.

  • Maintains required level of water in boiler and controls draught.

  • Cleans and maintains boiler and work area.


Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Other Stationary Plant Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 94% of people employed as Boiler and Engine Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 28 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Manufacturing
64.1%
2
Mining
6.8%
3
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
6.4%
4
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
3.2%
5
Other industries
11.9%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

23.1% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

16.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

37.4% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

11.5% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

4.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

7.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Boiler and Engine Operators All Jobs Average
NSW 23.1 31.6
VIC 16.3 25.6
QLD 37.4 20.0
SA 11.5 7.0
WA 4.7 10.8
TAS 7.0 2.0
NT 0.0 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


  • Around 85% of Boiler and Engine Operators live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
50
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
1%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Boiler and Engine Operators is 50 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 1% of the workforce. This is 47 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Boiler and Engine Operators All Jobs Average
15-19 0.0 5.0
20-24 2.6 9.3
25-34 15.3 22.9
35-44 17.9 22.0
45-54 29.0 21.6
55-59 15.1 9.0
60-64 14.3 6.0
65 and Over 5.8 4.2
Median Age 50 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Boiler or Engine Operator. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in engineering (mechanical, industrial or maritime).

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Boiler and Engine Operators All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.5 10.1
Bachelor degree 0.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 5.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 49.8 21.1
Year 12 12.5 18.1
Year 11 6.2 4.8
Year 10 and below 24.9 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Stationary Plant Operators who communicate well with others, are polite, courteous and reliable.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 50%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 50%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 48%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 46%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 45%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 45%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 45%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 43%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 43%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 43%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 43%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 43%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 43%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 43%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 43%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 39%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 39%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 39%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 37%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 30%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 65%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 48%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 46%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 43%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 43%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 42%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 42%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 41%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 38%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 37%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 36%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 34%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 31%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 25%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 24%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 23%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 18%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 17%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 12%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 12%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 55%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 54%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 48%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 48%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 48%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 46%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 46%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 46%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 45%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 43%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 43%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 43%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 43%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 41%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 39%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 83%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 79%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 72%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 70%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 68%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 68%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 66%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 65%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 64%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 63%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 61%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 60%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 59%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 59%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 59%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 56%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 56%

    Working with electronic equipment

    Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.

  • 55%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 53%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 47%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 67%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 62%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 33%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 19%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 71%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 67%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 52%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 52%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 38%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 33%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 99%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 98%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 93%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 91%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 91%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 90%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 89%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 87%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 86%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 85%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 85%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 84%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 84%

    Work at heights

    Work in high places (e.g., on poles, scaffolding, catwalks, or ladders).

  • 84%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 84%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 81%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 79%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 79%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 79%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 79%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-8021.00 - Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators.


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