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AI exposure Production

Will AI replace stationary engineers and boiler operators?

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators. US occupation 51-8021.

0.0%

of the time stationary engineers and boiler operators spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of stationary engineers and boiler operators' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for stationary engineers and boiler operatorsWhat stationary engineers and boiler operators no longer do alone

O*NET lists 25 tasks for stationary engineers and boiler operators. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

25 of the 25 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • 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.Core task
  • Adjust controls and/or valves on equipment to provide power, and to regulate and set operations of system or industrial processes.Core task
  • Analyze problems and take appropriate action to ensure continuous and reliable operation of equipment and systems.Core task
  • Check the air quality of ventilation systems and make adjustments to ensure compliance with mandated safety codes.Core task
  • Clean and lubricate boilers and auxiliary equipment and make minor adjustments as needed, using hand tools.Core task
  • Contact equipment manufacturers or appropriate specialists when necessary to resolve equipment problems.Core task
Show the other 19
  • Develop operation, safety, and maintenance procedures or assist in their development.Core task
  • Install burners and auxiliary equipment, using hand tools.Core task
  • Maintain daily logs of operation, maintenance, and safety activities, including test results, instrument readings, and details of equipment malfunctions and maintenance work.Core task
  • 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.Core task
  • Monitor boiler water, chemical, and fuel levels, and make adjustments to maintain required levels.Core task
  • Observe and interpret readings on gauges, meters, and charts registering various aspects of boiler operation to ensure that boilers are operating properly.Core task
  • 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.Core task
  • Perform or arrange for repairs, such as complete overhauls, replacement of defective valves, gaskets, or bearings, or fabrication of new parts.Core task
  • Provide assistance to plumbers in repairing or replacing water, sewer, or waste lines, and in daily maintenance activities.Core task
  • Receive instructions from steam engineers regarding steam plant and air compressor operations.Core task
  • Switch from automatic to manual controls and isolate equipment mechanically and electrically to allow for safe inspection and repair work.Core task
  • Test boiler water quality or arrange for testing and take necessary corrective action, such as adding chemicals to prevent corrosion and harmful deposits.Core task
  • Test electrical systems to determine voltages, using voltage meters.Core task
  • Weigh, measure, and record fuel used.Core task
  • Fire coal furnaces by hand or with stokers and gas- or oil-fed boilers, using automatic gas feeds or oil pumps.
  • Ignite fuel in burners, using torches or flames.
  • Investigate and report on accidents.
  • Operate mechanical hoppers and provide assistance in their adjustment and repair.
  • Supervise the work of assistant stationary engineers, turbine operators, boiler tenders, or air conditioning and refrigeration operators and mechanics.

How that compares

Among the 98 production occupations, stationary engineers and boiler operators rank 88. The group averages 0.8%, and its most exposed job is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers at 12.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Solar Photovoltaic Installers 0.0%
  2. 346Sound Engineering Technicians 0.0%
  3. 346Speech-Language Pathologists 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.