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Power Distributors and Dispatchers: Job Description
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
What Do Power Distributors and Dispatchers Take On?
The core tasks performed by power distributors and dispatchers include:
- Coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.
- Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
- Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
- Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
- Distribute or regulate the flow of power between entities, such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, or users, keeping track of the status of circuits or connections.
- Manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.
- Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
- Monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective power distributors and dispatchers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Power Distributors and Dispatchers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Auxiliary Operator
- Board Operator
- Control Area Operator
- Control Board Operator
- Control Operator
- Control Room Operator
- DSO (Distribution System Operator)
- Dispatcher
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 169,715 power distributors and dispatchers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.0% over the projection horizon.
Power Distributors and Dispatchers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $46,558 |
| Hourly median | $22.38 |
| 10th percentile | $32,294 |
| 25th percentile | $39,426 |
| 75th percentile | $53,690 |
| 90th percentile | $60,822 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $139,170 |
| Idaho | $136,550 |
| Connecticut | $134,050 |
| Nevada | $133,910 |
| Oregon | $130,100 |
| New York | $128,680 |
| Minnesota | $122,620 |
| Georgia | $121,970 |
| Maine | $116,810 |
| California | $116,360 |
| Colorado | $116,220 |
| Wyoming | $115,010 |
| Arkansas | $113,770 |
| Nebraska | $113,560 |
| Kansas | $113,230 |
| New Jersey | $112,340 |
| North Dakota | $112,310 |
| Alabama | $110,970 |
| Indiana | $110,160 |
| Michigan | $109,230 |
| Mississippi | $107,110 |
| Texas | $105,970 |
| Massachusetts | $105,750 |
| Wisconsin | $104,550 |
| Kentucky | $102,180 |
| Missouri | $102,140 |
| Florida | $101,870 |
| Virginia | $100,830 |
| Maryland | $100,710 |
| Utah | $100,620 |
| Oklahoma | $100,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,870 |
| West Virginia | $98,690 |
| Ohio | $88,810 |
| Tennessee | $88,400 |
| North Carolina | $87,420 |
| South Carolina | $85,380 |
| Illinois | $83,960 |
Where Power Distributors and Dispatchers Earn the Most
Pay for power distributors and dispatchers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $125,789 | 16.9% | 1.24 |
| Rocky Mountains | $118,175 | 3.1% | 1.10 |
| New England | $113,702 | 6.3% | 1.60 |
| Plains States | $113,576 | 5.4% | 1.14 |
| Middle Atlantic | $105,972 | 13.5% | 1.49 |
| Southeast | $102,467 | 21.7% | 1.37 |
| Great Lakes | $96,122 | 19.0% | 1.54 |
| Southwest | $89,772 | 14.2% | 1.15 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $166,600 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $160,630 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $159,820 | 80 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $145,780 | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | IN | $134,130 | 60 |
| Birmingham, AL | AL | $134,020 | 110 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $133,910 | 80 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | AR | $129,590 | 170 |
Industry Breakdown
Most power distributors and dispatchers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 6,330 | $106,160 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 980 | $108,870 |
| Educational Services | 150 | $79,750 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 50 | $90,140 |
| Manufacturing | 30 | $75,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 30 | $166,840 |
Below are examples of industries where power distributors and dispatchers work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of power distributors and dispatchers reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Consequence of Error
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Most power distributors and dispatchers positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Supplemental)
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Broadcast Technicians (Supplemental)
- Lighting Technicians (Supplemental)
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (Supplemental)
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: 51-8012.00 (Power Distributors and Dispatchers).
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