Boiler or Engine Operator

A boiler or engine operator monitors and controls stationary steam boilers, diesel engines, or gas turbines in industrial, manufacturing, or utility settings across Australia. They perform routine maintenance, inspect equipment for faults, log operational data, and respond to alarms to ensure safe and efficient operation within work health and safety laws enforced by the relevant state or territory regulator.

Monitor boiler pressure, temperature, and water level gauges, adjusting fuel supply and draft controls to maintain safe operating parameters. Inspect boiler tubes, firebox, and combustion chambers for scale, corrosion, or blockages using visual inspection and cleaning tools. Record operational readings, fuel consumption, and maintenance activities in shift logs and digital monitoring systems. Test water quality in boiler systems using chemical testing kits and pH meters, adding treatment chemicals to prevent corrosion and scaling. Respond to pressure relief valve activation, low water level alarms, and temperature excursions by isolating sections and contacting supervisors. Perform daily pre-start checks on diesel or gas engines, including oil level, coolant, fuel filters, and belt tension. Clean or replace fuel filters, air filters, and oil filters on stationary engines following manufacturer schedules. Blowdown boiler mud drums and bottom drains to remove sediment and maintain water circulation efficiency.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll be locked into shift work, including nights and weekends, in hot noisy engine rooms with poor air quality. The work is repetitive monitoring and maintenance with zero room for error: a missed gauge reading or failed inspection can cause explosions, fires, or deaths. Pay ceilings are low unless you move into supervision, and the role faces automation risk as digital monitoring systems improve.

Mining regions have steady demand. Realistically you'll find work in metro areas where heavy industry clusters exist, not in small towns. Remote work isn't possible for this role.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7129, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Adjust cylinder valves
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Process Documentation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Team Collaboration
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026