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The differences between power plant operators and stationary engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a stationary engineer has an average salary of $69,163, which is higher than the $49,204 average annual salary of a power plant operator.
The top three skills for a power plant operator include plant equipment, steam boilers and auxiliary equipment. The most important skills for a stationary engineer are HVAC, preventive maintenance, and plumbing.
| Power Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,204 | $69,163 |
| Hourly rate | $23.66 | $33.25 |
| Growth rate | -15% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,719 | 5,010 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A power plant operator is primarily in charge of controlling and maintaining machinery that generates and distributes electricity. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring charts and sensors, gathering and analyzing data, detecting errors and inconsistencies, maintaining daily logs and records of all progress, and performing adjustments as needed. They may also perform regular maintenance checks, executing corrective measures promptly. Furthermore, as a power plant operator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with fellow operators and power plant staff for an efficient and safe workflow.
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.
Power plant operators and stationary engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Average salary | $49,204 | $69,163 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $67,000 | Between $44,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sanitation District | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a power plant operator and a stationary engineer in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between power plant operators' and stationary engineers' demographics:
| Power Plant Operator | Stationary Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 1.5% White, 77.3% 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% |