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The differences between plant operators and stationary engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a plant operator, becoming a stationary engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a stationary engineer has an average salary of $69,163, which is higher than the $42,697 average annual salary of a plant operator.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a stationary engineer are HVAC, preventive maintenance, and plumbing.
| Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $69,163 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $33.25 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 5,010 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
Stationary Engineers are employees who are trained to operate machines and equipment. They mainly operate mechanical equipment, boilers, steam engines, and other stationary engines. They are also trained to conduct maintenance checks and basic repairs on such equipment. Stationary Engineers should be able to read gauges on the machines and assess the fuel levels. They are expected to monitor the machines and equipment and to track the operations. They are also expected to record and document the performance of the equipment. Sationary Engineers should know how to test the quality of the machines' outputs. This would help them manage the equipment.
Plant operators and stationary engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $69,163 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $44,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | New York |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a stationary engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | - |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and stationary engineers' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |