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Power Plant Operators in Mississippi

Considering working as a Power Plant Operators in Mississippi? Below are the key facts. Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. Excludes “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators” (51-8011).

What do Power Plant Operators Make in Mississippi?

For a power plant operators working in Mississippi, wages run about $94,930 per year (or about $45.64/hour).Annual wages span from $63,710 at the 10th percentile to $117,120 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$63,710	$30.63
25th percentile	$80,180	$38.55
Median (50th)	$94,930	$45.64
75th percentile	$103,970	$49.98
90th percentile	$117,120	$56.31

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Mississippi relative to the national average — is 1.93, indicating that power plant operators are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, power plant operators earn a median of $49,236 per year ($23.67/hour), above the Mississippi median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 731,027 power plant operators nationwide. In Mississippi alone, around 450 people work in this role. That matches the typical state median of 450.

Top Mississippi Metros for Power Plant Operators

These are the Mississippi metros with the most power plant operators in Mississippi.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	110	$95,890

Top States for Power Plant Operators Employment

The table below shows the states where the most power plant operators 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 Power Plant Operators

Where power plant operators earn the most: power plant operators.

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

The most important power plant operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

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

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for power plant operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Power Plant Operators typically:

• 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.
• Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.
• Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.
• Clean, lubricate, or maintain equipment, such as generators, turbines, pumps, or compressors, to prevent failure or deterioration.
• Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports.

Work Activities

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

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians

Related Careers

Related occupations to power plant operators include:

• Geothermal Production Managers
• Biomass Power Plant Managers
• Hydroelectric Production Managers
• Nuclear Technicians
• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
• Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Also Known As

Asphalt Plant Operator, Auxiliary Equipment Tender, Auxiliary Operator, Auxiliary Power Equipment Operator, Batch Plant Operator, Booster Operator, Booster Plant Operator, Booster Pump Operator, Carbon Capture Power Plant Engineer, Carbon Capture Power Plant Operator, Carbon Sequestration Plant Engineer, Carbon Sequestration Plant Operator, Coal Gasification Technician (Coal Gasification Tech), Cogeneration Technician (Cogeneration Tech), Control Center Operator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-8013.00