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The differences between stationary engineers and operations engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a stationary engineer, becoming an operations engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an operations engineer has an average salary of $91,522, which is higher than the $69,163 average annual salary of a stationary engineer.
The top three skills for a stationary engineer include HVAC, preventive maintenance and plumbing. The most important skills for an operations engineer are python, cloud, and AWS.
| Stationary Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,163 | $91,522 |
| Hourly rate | $33.25 | $44.00 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 5,010 | 155,188 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 50 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
An operations engineer is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the operations of a company are working properly in industries such as manufacturing or shipping. Operations engineers are required to handle repairs or upgrades to the company's machinery and coordinate with department heads to assist in fine-tuning their operations system. When they have upgraded their system, operations engineers should conduct training with managers as well as employees and other workers. They are also required to examine machinery for defects and communicate maintenance schedules with department heads.
Stationary engineers and operations engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stationary Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,163 | $91,522 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $107,000 | Between $63,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a stationary engineer and an operations engineer in terms of educational background:
| Stationary Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Heating And Air Conditioning | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between stationary engineers' and operations engineers' demographics:
| Stationary Engineer | Operations Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 10.6% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |