Life As a Plant and System Operator
Occupation Description All plant and system operators not listed separately.
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Types of Plant and System Operator
- Pressure Controller
- Sand Plant Attendant
- Fire Tender
- Coal Pipeline Operator
- Control Board Operator
Job Opportunities for Plant and System Operators
In the United States, there were 12,100 jobs for Plant and System Operator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 300 new jobs for Plant and System Operator by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Plant and System Operator are South Dakota, Nebraska, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Massachusetts, West Virginia, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Plant and System Operator
The typical yearly salary for Plant and System Operators is somewhere between $34,580 and $81,750.

Plant and System Operators who work in Alaska, Washington, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Plant and System Operators in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $53,280 |
Alaska | $65,360 |
Arizona | $54,740 |
Arkansas | $52,910 |
California | $69,480 |
Colorado | $50,910 |
Connecticut | $65,360 |
Florida | $53,060 |
Georgia | $42,540 |
Hawaii | $68,500 |
Idaho | $63,100 |
Illinois | $63,770 |
Indiana | $60,160 |
Iowa | $62,060 |
Kansas | $66,380 |
Kentucky | $53,540 |
Louisiana | $54,610 |
Maine | $44,000 |
Maryland | $60,260 |
Massachusetts | $63,710 |
Michigan | $62,000 |
Minnesota | $67,770 |
Mississippi | $58,280 |
Missouri | $56,330 |
Montana | $60,360 |
Nebraska | $41,410 |
Nevada | $59,180 |
New Jersey | $62,690 |
New Mexico | $53,040 |
New York | $63,550 |
North Carolina | $57,370 |
North Dakota | $52,260 |
Ohio | $52,440 |
Oklahoma | $52,740 |
Oregon | $58,800 |
Pennsylvania | $55,250 |
South Carolina | $57,790 |
Tennessee | $55,980 |
Texas | $52,850 |
Utah | $53,520 |
Virginia | $62,820 |
Washington | $68,600 |
West Virginia | $54,870 |
Wisconsin | $64,240 |
Where Plant and System Operators Are Employed

Plant and System Operators work in the following industries:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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