They worked in a variety of places, including factories, hospitals, hotels, office and apartment buildings, schools, and shopping malls. Some are employed as contractors to a building or plant. Stationary engineers work throughout the country, generally in the more heavily populated areas where large industrial and commercial establishments are located. In addition, valuable experience can be obtained in the Navy or the Merchant Marine because marine-engineering plants are similar to many stationary power and heating plants. Most employers prefer to hire persons with at least a high school diploma or its equivalent due to the increasing complexity of the equipment engineers work with.
Many stationary engineers have some college education.
Mechanical aptitude, manual dexterity, and good physical condition also are important. The International Union of Operating Engineers sponsors apprenticeship programs and is the principal union for stationary engineers. In addition, apprentices receive 600 hours of classroom instruction in subjects such as boiler design and operation, elementary physics, pneumatics, refrigeration, air conditioning, electricity, and electronics. Those who acquire their skills on the job usually start as boiler tenders or helpers to experienced stationary engineers. This practical experience may be supplemented by postsecondary vocational training in computerized controls and instrumentation.