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Hydroelectric Plant Technicians in Tennessee

Hydroelectric Plant Technicians in Tennessee

Want to work as a Hydroelectric Plant Technicians in Tennessee? Here’s what you need to know. Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. Excludes “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators” (51-8011).

What do Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Make in Tennessee?

The hydroelectric plant technicians working in Tennessee, the typical annual salary is $107,380 per year (or about $51.63/hour).Pay can range from $65,930 at the 10th percentile to $117,120 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $65,930 $31.70
25th percentile $89,380 $42.97
Median (50th) $107,380 $51.63
75th percentile $113,010 $54.33
90th percentile $117,120 $56.31
Salary ranges for Hydroelectric Plant Technicians in Tennessee

The job concentration index in Tennessee compared to the national average — is 0.85, meaning fewer hydroelectric plant technicians per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, hydroelectric plant technicians earn a median of $52,705 per year ($25.34/hour), exceeding the Tennessee median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 267,459 hydroelectric plant technicians in the U.S.. In Tennessee alone, approximately 550 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 450 hydroelectric plant technicians.

Forecasted number of jobs for Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

Top Tennessee Metros for Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

The largest metro-area employers of hydroelectric plant technicians in Tennessee.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Knoxville, TN 110 $98,220
Memphis, TN-MS-AR 100 $110,990
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN 90 $98,220
Chattanooga, TN-GA 80 $98,220

Top States for Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Employment

View the states that employ the most hydroelectric plant technicians work.

State Number Employed
California 2,390
New York 2,350
Texas 1,880
Illinois 1,630
Pennsylvania 1,380
Florida 1,330
Michigan 1,200
Massachusetts 1,060
Indiana 900
Arizona 890
South Carolina 850
Missouri 760
Alaska 750
Alabama 730
Virginia 730
Minnesota 710
Wisconsin 660
Ohio 630
Oklahoma 600
Washington 570

Highest-Paying States for Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

Where hydroelectric plant technicians earn the most: hydroelectric plant technicians.

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

Skills

Key hydroelectric plant technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Equipment Maintenance  3.9 / 5
0
5
Operations Monitoring  3.9 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Operation and Control  3.8 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.6 / 5
0
5
Repairing  3.5 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Mechanical  4.9 / 5
0
5
Public Safety and Security  4.3 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.3 / 5
0
5
Engineering and Technology  4.1 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  4.0 / 5
0
5
Design  3.9 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Top abilities for hydroelectric plant technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Problem Sensitivity  3.9 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  3.8 / 5
0
5
Control Precision  3.8 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.6 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.6 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Monitor hydroelectric power plant equipment operation and performance, adjusting to performance specifications, as necessary.
  • Identify or address malfunctions of hydroelectric plant operational equipment, such as generators, transformers, or turbines.
  • Start, adjust, or stop generating units, operating valves, gates, or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric power generating plants.
  • Perform preventive or corrective containment or cleanup measures in hydroelectric plants to prevent environmental contamination.
  • Inspect water-powered electric generators or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric plants to verify proper operation or to determine maintenance or repair needs.
  • Communicate status of hydroelectric operating equipment to dispatchers or supervisors.
  • Operate high voltage switches or related devices in hydropower stations.
  • Operate hydroelectric plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, or battery banks.
  • Maintain or repair hydroelectric plant electrical, mechanical, or electronic equipment, such as motors, transformers, voltage regulators, generators, relays, battery systems, air compressors, sump pumps, gates, or valves.
  • Implement load or switching orders in hydroelectric plants, in accordance with specifications or instructions.
  • Install or calibrate electrical or mechanical equipment, such as motors, engines, switchboards, relays, switch gears, meters, pumps, hydraulics, or flood channels.
  • Change oil, hydraulic fluid, or other lubricants to maintain condition of hydroelectric plant equipment.

Work Activities

  • Controlling Machines and Processes
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Handling and Moving Objects

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

Other careers like hydroelectric plant technicians include:

Also Known As

Communications and Instrumentation Mechanic (C and I Mechanic), Hydro Mechanic, Hydro Operator, Hydro Plant Technician (Hydro Plant Tech), Hydro Technician (Hydro Tech), Hydroelectric Machinery Mechanic, Hydroelectric Mechanic, Hydroelectric Operations Maintenance Technician (Hydroelectric Operations Maintenance Tech), Hydroelectric Operations Maintenance Worker, Hydroelectric Operations and Maintenance Technician (Hydro O and M Technician), Hydroelectric Operator, Hydroelectric Plant Electrician, Hydroelectric Plant Installation Technician (Hydroelectric Plant Installation Tech), Hydroelectric Plant Mechanic, Hydroelectric Plant Operations and Maintenance Technician (Hydroelectric Plant O and M Tech).

References

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