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Job Description: An apprenticeship is a formal method of training in a skilled occupation or trade. For general information about apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with business, visit the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS) website. OATELS is the Federal program that administers the National Registered Apprenticeship System (NRAS). It is a consolidation of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and the new responsibilities of the employer and labor liaison dedicated to building a workforce for the 21st century.
Apprentice stationary engineers are paid trainees who learn to operate and maintain stationary engines and mechanical equipment including steam engines, air compressors, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers. Apprentices learn the skills of stationary engineers through a formal program of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Duties: Working under the supervision of an experienced stationary engineer, apprentices may perform some or all of the following tasks:
- Read meters and gauges
- Adjust controls on equipment to specified operating conditions
- Record data -- such as temperature of equipment, hours of operation, and the amount of fuel used
- Check flue gases
Working Conditions: A normal work week for stationary engineers is 40 hours. Working conditions are typically dusty and noisy. Apprentices may be required to attend classes in the evening.
Educational Requirements: Applicants for an apprenticeship must complete high school or the equivalent (G.E.D.) and pass an aptitude test to qualify for the program. An applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 25, and be a member of a labor union. Experience gained through vocational courses, military training, or work experience may be used to obtain advanced placement in the apprenticeship program. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Trade and Industrial Education Standards, Competency Profiles, and Resource Links online. For additional information on education and training in this field, visit the International Union of Operating Engineers online.
Outlook: The estimated number of stationary engineers (and boiler operators) in Tennessee is 280. It is projected there will be a 16 percent increase in this occupation through the year 2012 with approximately 10 job openings annually. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.
| 10% | 25% | Median- 50% | 75% | 90% | |
| TN Annual | $22,890 | $33,490 | $50,430 | $58,230 | $68,660 |
| US Annual | $28,370 | $36,490 | $46,040 | $57,380 | $68,690 |
*Some salaries are listed at an hourly rate. Those that include a single dollar amount are considered hourly wage.
Wage and salary data provided by:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
- TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
- Bureau of Economic Analysis website
For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org
Last updated on: January 23, 2008