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Boiler operators

How to become a Boiler Operator

Also called: Boiler technician

Operates boilers to produce steam and hot water for air conditioning, in-house power generation turbines and factory heating and warming equipment.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

To work as a boiler operator you need a qualification set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which depends on the size of the boilers handled. There are no education or age requirements to sit the second-class boiler technician licence exam, but people under 18 cannot receive the licence. Holders of the second-class licence can sit the first-class exam, and holders of the first-class licence can sit the special-class exam. To become a boiler operations chief, who directs and supervises boiler work, the licence required depends on the size of the boilers. Related qualifications include boiler maintenance technician. You operate boilers and related equipment, so the job suits people who like machines.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Boiler Operator?

To work as a boiler operator you need a qualification set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which depends on the size of the boilers handled. There are no education or age requirements to sit the second-class boiler technician licence exam, but people under 18 cannot receive the licence. Holders of the second-class licence can sit the first-class exam, and holders of the first-class licence can sit the special-class exam. To become a boiler operations chief, who directs and supervises boiler work, the licence required depends on the size of the boilers. Related qualifications include boiler maintenance technician. You operate boilers and related equipment, so the job suits people who like machines.

How much does a Boiler Operator earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,522,600 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other stationary and construction machinery operators, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Boiler Operator?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 12% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Boiler Operator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026