Life As a Power Plant Operator
Position Description Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
What Do Power Plant Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
- Replenish electrolytes in batteries and oil in voltage transformers, and reset tripped electric relays.
- Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.
- Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
- Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units.
- Operate, control, or monitor gasifiers or related equipment, such as coolers, water quenches, water gas shifts reactors, or sulfur recovery units, to produce syngas or electricity from coal.
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Power Plant Operator Skills
These are the skills Power Plant Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Related Job Titles
- Control Room Operator
- Outside Plant Technician
- Booster Operator
- Power Generation Technician
- Pilot Plant Technician
Job Outlook for Power Plant Operators
There were about 36,100 jobs for Power Plant Operator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.1% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 400 new jobs for Power Plant Operator by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,200 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Power Plant Operator are Nevada, Texas, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Montana, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Power Plant Operator
The salary for Power Plant Operators ranges between about $45,590 and $106,650 a year.
Power Plant Operators who work in California, Washington, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Power Plant Operators make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $70,890 |
| Alaska | $63,310 |
| Arkansas | $69,980 |
| California | $93,610 |
| Colorado | $78,060 |
| Connecticut | $77,550 |
| Florida | $72,950 |
| Georgia | $70,640 |
| Hawaii | $90,650 |
| Idaho | $68,280 |
| Illinois | $72,060 |
| Indiana | $68,330 |
| Iowa | $77,140 |
| Kansas | $57,030 |
| Kentucky | $80,870 |
| Louisiana | $71,380 |
| Maine | $69,300 |
| Maryland | $87,040 |
| Massachusetts | $79,370 |
| Michigan | $80,420 |
| Minnesota | $82,100 |
| Mississippi | $76,740 |
| Missouri | $76,320 |
| Montana | $83,580 |
| Nebraska | $70,350 |
| Nevada | $87,230 |
| New Hampshire | $67,060 |
| New Jersey | $84,190 |
| New Mexico | $81,690 |
| New York | $87,360 |
| North Carolina | $79,900 |
| North Dakota | $87,130 |
| Ohio | $73,650 |
| Oklahoma | $67,570 |
| Oregon | $79,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,550 |
| South Carolina | $71,630 |
| Tennessee | $77,880 |
| Texas | $74,380 |
| Utah | $75,590 |
| Vermont | $63,550 |
| Virginia | $62,360 |
| Washington | $93,600 |
| West Virginia | $65,810 |
| Wisconsin | $67,150 |
| Wyoming | $78,890 |
What Tools do Power Plant Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Power Plant Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Distributed control system DCS
- Interlock shutdown systems
How to Become a Power Plant Operator
Learn what Power Plant Operator education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Power Plant Operators Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Power Plant Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Power Plant Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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