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The differences between shift engineers and boiler plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a shift engineer and a boiler plant operator. Additionally, a shift engineer has an average salary of $91,237, which is higher than the $46,119 average annual salary of a boiler plant operator.
The top three skills for a shift engineer include HVAC, preventive maintenance and plumbing. The most important skills for a boiler plant operator are plant equipment, boiler water, and auxiliary equipment.
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. This position requires good communication skills, time management skills, and previous experience in the field.
A boiler plant operator is primarily in charge of operating and monitoring boilers to ensure they function safely and efficiently. Their daily responsibilities often include starting and shutting down boilers, conducting safety and maintenance inspections, tracking the water levels and gauges, checking fuel supplies, and recording daily readings while adhering to the protocols and standards. There are also times when they must perform basic repairs and adjustments, control the pressure and chemical levels, inspect fluids, and produce regular progress reports for managers.
Shift engineers and boiler plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shift Engineer | Boiler Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $91,237 | $46,119 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $128,000 | Between $32,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Gillette |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a shift engineer and a boiler plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Shift Engineer | Boiler Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shift engineers' and boiler plant operators' demographics:
| Shift Engineer | Boiler Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 8.2% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |