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Power Plant Operators in North Carolina
Thinking about a career as a Power Plant Operators in North Carolina? 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 Power Plant Operators Make in North Carolina?
For a power plant operators working in North Carolina, wages run about $99,290 per year (or about $47.74/hour).Pay can range from $59,220 at the 10th percentile to $127,900 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| 25th percentile | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Median (50th) | $99,290 | $47.74 |
| 75th percentile | $122,760 | $59.02 |
| 90th percentile | $127,900 | $61.49 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina compared to the national average — is 0.51, suggesting fewer power plant operators per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, power plant operators earn a median of $49,236 per year ($23.67/hour), exceeding the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 731,027 power plant operators across the United States. In North Carolina alone, around 500 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 450 power plant operators.
Top North Carolina Metros for Power Plant Operators
These are the North Carolina metros with the most power plant operators in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 40 | $96,900 |
Top States for Power Plant Operators Employment
View the states that employ 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
The highest-paying states for 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
Top power plant operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for power plant operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, 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
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
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
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