Boiler operator vs air plant engineer

The differences between boiler operators and air plant engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a boiler operator and an air plant engineer. Additionally, an air plant engineer has an average salary of $83,066, which is higher than the $49,782 average annual salary of a boiler operator.

The top three skills for a boiler operator include preventive maintenance, air compressors and boiler room. The most important skills for an air plant engineer are EPA, title v, and .

Boiler operator vs air plant engineer overview

	Boiler Operator	Air Plant Engineer
Yearly salary	$49,782	$83,066
Hourly rate	$23.93	$39.94
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	32,715	11,579
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age	50	50
Years of experience	2	2

Boiler operator vs air plant engineer salary

Boiler operators and air plant engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Boiler Operator	Air Plant Engineer
Average salary	$49,782	$83,066
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $70,000	Between $53,000 And $128,000
Highest paying City	Ithaca, NY	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	New York	New York
Best paying company	Southeastern Med	InterDigital
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	-

Differences between boiler operator and air plant engineer education

There are a few differences between a boiler operator and an air plant engineer in terms of educational background:

	Boiler Operator	Air Plant Engineer
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common major	Engineering	Communication
Most common college	-	-

Boiler operator vs air plant engineer demographics

Here are the differences between boiler operators' and air plant engineers' demographics:

	Boiler Operator	Air Plant Engineer
Average age	50	50
Gender ratio	Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%	Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 8.0% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between boiler operator and air plant engineer duties and responsibilities

Boiler operator example responsibilities.

Manage an internal environmental information system and ensure compliance with EPA and RCRA regulations.
Experience in welding, brazing, soldering etc.
Crane operator and highly experience CDL driver with tanker and hazmat endorsements.
Analyze operating data to make sure the equipment run at optimal levels.
Run, repair or troubleshoot electrical systems, both high and low voltages.
Create and update safety reporting for injuries and lose time including OSHA compliance logs.

Air plant engineer example responsibilities.

Manage and provide training to a multicultural maintenance team using TPM principles and following standards such as AIB and BRC.
Draft monthly operation reports used for environmental and NERC compliance.
Host radio show as a DJ on Sunday afternoons and weekday overnights.
Perform maintenance on air compressor, air dryers, feed water and condensate pumps and sodium zeolite softeners.
Maintain, clean and rebuild plant equipment such as air compressors, air dryers, pumps, water towers, etc.
Prepare and review project drawings/specifications to ensure compliance with OSHA environmental/quality standards, and federal, state and local environmental laws.

Boiler operator vs air plant engineer skills

Common boiler operator skills

Preventive Maintenance, 6%
Air Compressors, 5%
Boiler Room, 5%
Chillers, 5%
HVAC, 4%
Steam Boilers, 4%

Common air plant engineer skills

EPA, 59%
Title V, 41%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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