Boiler Plant Operating

What the Numbers Say About Boiler Plant Operating

Federal agencies employ 789 people in the Boiler Plant Operating occupation (OPM code 5402), accounting for 0.0% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472 for the March 2025 reporting window. Headcount in this occupation moved down by -4.7% versus the prior period, a modest but trackable signal for anyone considering this specialized federal career path.

Average tenure in Boiler Plant Operating runs 11.1 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career. Pay averages $75,363 per year, 31.4% below the $109,869 federal civilian average and up 1.5% from the prior period, a modest shift, consistent with routine locality pay and grade-level movement.

Code 54, the Industrial Equipment Operation Family family, is where the federal government classifies Boiler Plant Operating alongside 11 related occupations. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Boiler Plant Operating postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Inside the Industrial Equipment Operation Family family (12 occupations, 5,157 employees combined), Boiler Plant Operating holds the #2 spot by headcount, a 15.3% share of the family total. Its average salary ranks right at the midpoint of pay among Industrial Equipment Operation Family occupations.