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Power Plant Operators: Career Overview
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
What Do Power Plant Operators Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of power plant operators span:
- Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
- Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
- Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
- Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
- Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.
- Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units.
- Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top power plant operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Power Plant Operators Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Asphalt Plant Operator
- Auxiliary Equipment Tender
- Auxiliary Operator
- Auxiliary Power Equipment Operator
- Batch Plant Operator
- Booster Operator
- Booster Plant Operator
- Booster Pump Operator
Employment and Demand
There are about 731,027 power plant operators working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Power Plant Operators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $49,236 |
| Hourly median | $23.67 |
| 10th percentile | $27,673 |
| 25th percentile | $38,454 |
| 75th percentile | $60,017 |
| 90th percentile | $70,798 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| 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
Earnings for power plant operators differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
Most power plant operators work in these industries:
| 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 |
Power Plant Operators work in the following industries:
Software Power Plant Operators Use
- 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
Daily working conditions for power plant operators 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
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Entry-level power plant operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Supplemental)
- Hydroelectric Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Nuclear Technicians (Supplemental)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians (Supplemental)
- Geothermal Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for power plant operators commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from 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: 51-8013.00 (Power Plant Operators).
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