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Biomass Plant Technicians: Career Overview
Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
What Do Biomass Plant Technicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of biomass plant technicians span:
- Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
- Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
- Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
- Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
- Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
- Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
- Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges.
- Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power.
Skills and Knowledge
Top biomass plant technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Auxiliary Operator
- Biomass Boiler Operator
- Biomass Plant Operator
- Biomass Plant Technician
- Central Heating Plant Operator
- Centrifugal Chiller Technician
- Chiller Operator
- Chiller Technician
Employment and Demand
There are about 56,489 biomass plant technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Biomass Plant Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $56,327 |
| Hourly median | $27.08 |
| 10th percentile | $39,727 |
| 25th percentile | $48,027 |
| 75th percentile | $64,627 |
| 90th percentile | $72,927 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Biomass Plant Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $124,050 |
| New York | $121,760 |
| Hawaii | $115,190 |
| Oregon | $114,500 |
| New Jersey | $109,970 |
| North Dakota | $109,340 |
| Tennessee | $107,380 |
| Arizona | $107,210 |
| Nevada | $106,990 |
| Maryland | $106,300 |
| California | $105,520 |
| South Dakota | $105,400 |
| Wyoming | $105,330 |
| Michigan | $103,880 |
| Utah | $103,760 |
| Alabama | $103,640 |
| Georgia | $103,590 |
| Texas | $103,120 |
| Illinois | $103,020 |
| Idaho | $102,750 |
| Indiana | $102,730 |
| Montana | $102,610 |
| Massachusetts | $102,080 |
| Delaware | $101,790 |
| Rhode Island | $100,840 |
| North Carolina | $99,290 |
| Iowa | $98,880 |
| Nebraska | $98,760 |
| New Mexico | $98,690 |
| Colorado | $98,570 |
| Vermont | $98,260 |
| Ohio | $97,810 |
| West Virginia | $96,230 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 |
| Louisiana | $94,500 |
| Connecticut | $92,310 |
| Kansas | $89,630 |
| Arkansas | $88,860 |
| Minnesota | $88,090 |
| Kentucky | $87,330 |
| Missouri | $86,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,260 |
| Alaska | $85,070 |
| Florida | $84,030 |
| Wisconsin | $81,250 |
| Oklahoma | $80,780 |
| South Carolina | $78,580 |
| Virginia | $78,460 |
| Maine | $78,080 |
| New Hampshire | $72,370 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,270 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for biomass plant technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $108,094 | 14.0% | 1.11 |
| Far Western US | $105,890 | 15.3% | 2.72 |
| Rocky Mountains | $102,211 | 4.3% | 1.51 |
| Southwest | $100,165 | 11.3% | 1.05 |
| Great Lakes | $99,657 | 16.3% | 1.24 |
| New England | $95,991 | 5.7% | 1.34 |
| Plains States | $91,779 | 9.1% | 1.37 |
| Southeast | $91,206 | 23.4% | 1.20 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $156,260 | 180 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | WA | $140,800 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $136,640 | 150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $136,300 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $133,460 | 140 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $128,340 | 1,250 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $127,190 | 50 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | NY | $122,490 | 100 |
Top Industries Employing Biomass Plant Technicians
The bulk of biomass plant technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 21,490 | $102,950 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 950 | $77,560 |
| Manufacturing | 770 | $71,470 |
| Educational Services | 770 | $61,960 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 730 | $78,530 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 460 | $64,370 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 420 | $107,870 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 160 | $81,320 |
Biomass Plant Technicians work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for biomass plant technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Most biomass plant technicians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Biofuels Production Managers (Primary-Long)
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Primary-Short)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Chemical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians (Supplemental)
- Geothermal Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Power Plant Operators (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring biomass plant technicians often complete programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8013.03 (Power Plant Operators).
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