How to hire a boiler plant operator

How to hire a boiler plant operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step boiler plant operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a boiler plant operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new boiler plant operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a boiler plant operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a boiler plant operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A boiler plant operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, boiler plant operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of boiler plant operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Boiler Plant Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Boiler Plant Operator	Stationary engineers and boiler operators control stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or for industrial purposes.	$15-31
   Shift Engineer	A shift engineer conducts maintenance operations and ensures a company's engineering policies are upheld. They supervise a team, perform preventative maintenance, take orders, keep records, and control inventory... Show more	$30-61
   Watch Engineer	A watch engineer designs and develops equipment according to project concepts and requirements. Although their responsibilities vary upon their industry or company of employment, it typically includes conducting research and analyses to establish plans, produce prototypes, create and implement test structures, troubleshoot problems, and develop strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$30-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plant Equipment
   • Boiler Water
   • Auxiliary Equipment
   • Water Pumps
   • Fuel Oil
   • HVAC
   • Switches
   • Air Compressors
   • Water Treatment
   • Operational Maintenance
   • Hot Water
   • Water Systems
   • Water Samples
   • Control Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
   • Install preventative maintenance programs and perform maintenance which include: electrical, plumbing, electronics etc.
   • Conduct maintenance repair of plumbing systems throughout university.
   • Prepare asphalt mixtures per customer requirements, load and unload tankers and monitor tanks and assist with paperwork
   • Attend shipboard firefighting school at NDCTC Philadelphia.
   • Work in law enforcement, corrections, quality control and shipboard firefighting instructor while on shore duty.

   More boiler plant operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the boiler plant operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A boiler plant operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a boiler plant operator in Florida may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level boiler plant operator. Additionally, a boiler plant operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average boiler plant operator salary

   $46,119yearly

   $22.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level boiler plant operator salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average boiler plant operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$59,708	$29
   2	Rhode Island	$54,389	$26
   3	Massachusetts	$54,225	$26
   4	Vermont	$53,677	$26
   5	Minnesota	$51,619	$25
   6	Iowa	$48,099	$23
   7	Arizona	$46,044	$22
   8	Ohio	$44,940	$22
   9	Nebraska	$44,893	$22
   10	Virginia	$40,413	$19
   11	Louisiana	$38,001	$18
   12	Alabama	$35,463	$17
   13	Texas	$34,860	$17
   14	Arkansas	$31,551	$15

   Average boiler plant operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Gillette	$64,943	$31.22
   2	Salem State University	$58,017	$27.89
   3	Minnesota State Fair	$56,613	$27.22	2
   4	Valero Energy	$55,960	$26.90	10
   5	Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center	$55,793	$26.82
   6	Broadlawns Medical Center	$55,203	$26.54
   7	Abbott	$52,840	$25.40	27
   8	Alere	$51,744	$24.88
   9	University of Vermont	$46,314	$22.27
   10	Sanford Health	$45,980	$22.11
   11	P&G	$45,915	$22.07	26
   12	HKA Enterprises	$45,531	$21.89	2
   13	Chugach Alaska	$44,341	$21.32	3
   14	The Long Island Home	$41,252	$19.83
   15	University of Richmond	$39,027	$18.76

4. Writing a boiler plant operator job description

   A boiler plant operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a boiler plant operator job description:

   Boiler plant operator job description example

   Are you ready to gain new skills to help run and maintain the latest production technology and equipment for the world's biggest brands? We're looking for team players who know how to take charge of business-related challenges and keep us running smoothly.
   
   The Gillette World Shaving Headquarters, in South Boston, is hiring for licensed Engineers and Fireman to work in our power generation facility. As the Boiler Plant Operator, you will work as owners and leaders of your shift and equipment.
   
   Boiler Plant Operators do various types of work, operating and maintaining power generation equipment, such as:- 2 MW Co-generation combined Cycle- Steam turbines, boilers, chillers, compressed air, vacuum and process water systems- Water treatment systems, permit compliance testing
   
   We offer you:- Ownership of your work from your first day- Maintain world-renowned production technologies in some interesting ways- The chance to influence the production and quality of our products- Mentorship, coaching, training, and guidance- Known for providing a safe work environment
   Job Qualifications
   
   We believe you will be a great fit here if you:- Possess a minimum of a current Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2nd Class Firemen's License or higher. Must maintain license requirements- are 18 years of age or older
   
   - Demonstrate good understanding and experience on compressed air systems, chillers, turbines, boilers, RO, sea water, process water and waste water systems
   
   - Are 18 years or older- Have a minimum of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent education- Are willing to wear required safety personal protective equipment (eye protection, ear protection, safety shoes)
   
   We believe in order to be able to perform on the job, you will need to meet the following physical requirements:- Use basic hand and power tools- Lift 50 pounds by bending and stooping; climb, stand, and move around on stairs, ladders and platforms; twist, turn andbend- Enter confined spaces- Stand on concrete floors for an extended period of time
   
   The South Boston Procter & Gamble Plant operates 7-days per week. Technicians work any day of the week, including weekends. Work on weekends may be as overtime or as part of the Technician's normal schedule. Changes in business volume and production requirements can cause the plant to occasionally change the length of work shifts or the rotation schedule. The hours of work vary from 8 to 12 hours per day. Shift rotations vary from working a single straight shift to working two or three rotating shifts. Technicians are expected to be willing to rotate and to work any shift. Additional days could be required to be worked as overtime.
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, citizenship, HIV/AIDS status or any other legally protected factor.Immigration sponsorship is not available for this role. As a general matter, Procter & Gamble does not sponsor candidates for nonimmigrant visas or permanent residency. However, Procter & Gamble may make exceptions on a discretionarybasis. Any exceptions would be based on the Company's specific business needs at the time and place of recruitment as well as the particular qualifications of the individual.Procter & Gamble participates in e-verify as required by law.Qualified individuals will not be disadvantaged based on being unemployed.
   
   Job Schedule
   
   Full time
   
   
   R000056408
   
   Job Segmentation
   
   Plant Technicians (Job Segmentation)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right boiler plant operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your boiler plant operator job on Zippia to find and recruit boiler plant operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting boiler plant operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new boiler plant operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the boiler plant operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new boiler plant operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a boiler plant operator?