AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 51-8021.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators?

Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.

Estimated AI task exposure
25%

Low-Moderate exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

25 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

43/100

Physical moat

68/100

Human moat

23/100

Rating coverage

100%

25 task statements / 25 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Operate or tend stationary engines, boilers, and auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, compressors, or air-conditioning equipment, to supply and maintain steam or heat for buildings, marine vessels, or pneumatic tools.
Importance 85/100Relevance 98/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.88
Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.
Importance 82/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 72/100Weight 0.86
Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.
Importance 82/100Relevance 98/100Frequency 74/100Weight 0.86
Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.
Importance 84/100Relevance 94/100Frequency 75/100Weight 0.86
Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.
Importance 83/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 63/100Weight 0.85
Monitor and inspect equipment, computer terminals, switches, valves, gauges, alarms, safety devices, and meters to detect leaks or malfunctions and to ensure that equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
Importance 79/100Relevance 99/100Frequency 66/100Weight 0.84
Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.
Importance 78/100Relevance 98/100Frequency 69/100Weight 0.83
Activate valves to maintain required amounts of water in boilers, to adjust supplies of combustion air, and to control the flow of fuel into burners.
Importance 85/100Relevance 88/100Frequency 67/100Weight 0.82
Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.
Importance 81/100Relevance 91/100Frequency 58/100Weight 0.79
Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.
Importance 77/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 51/100Weight 0.78

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$78,620

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

28,250

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+3.1%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

3

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

5%

20 points lower exposure • 89% profile similarity

Median wage: $56,210 Growth 2025–2035: +4.4% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

9%

16 points lower exposure • 91% profile similarity

Median wage: $61,010 Growth 2025–2035: +10.9% Annual openings: 41

more physical-world work, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Helpers--Extraction Workers

5%

20 points lower exposure • 88% profile similarity

Median wage: $47,730 Growth 2025–2035: +1.7% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Millwrights

5%

20 points lower exposure • 90% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,700 Growth 2025–2035: +0.9% Annual openings: 3

less digital task exposure, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

5%

20 points lower exposure • 88% profile similarity

Median wage: $47,880 Growth 2025–2035: +2.3% Annual openings: 4

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Bicycle Repairers

5%

20 points lower exposure • 87% profile similarity

Median wage: $42,780 Growth 2025–2035: -5.7% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work, less digital task exposure

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

    AUGMENT

    • administrative support tasks
    • planning and documentation

    PROTECT

    • physical-world execution
    • on-site troubleshooting
    • dexterity and equipment interaction

    LEARN

    • AI-assisted diagnostics
    • digital documentation
    • basic AI literacy

    AI-PROOFING RESOURCES

    What this score does not mean

    The percentage is a comparative task-exposure index. It is not the probability that this occupation disappears, that a worker is laid off, or that AI can perform the entire job.

    New in V11

    Find a Safer Career Path

    High exposure does not mean starting over. V11 compares your occupation with the other 922 O*NET occupations and surfaces lower-exposure options with similar work profiles.

    EXPLORE CAREER ALTERNATIVES
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    Knowledge is your strongest upgrade.