Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

ManufacturingO*NET 51-8013.04United States

Monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation. Operate plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, and battery banks.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $102,045
Projected change: −4.8%
Typical education: Associate degree
Employment: 31.86K jobs

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What hydroelectric plant technicians do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Monitor hydroelectric power plant equipment operation and performance, adjusting to performance specifications, as necessary.
Identify or address malfunctions of hydroelectric plant operational equipment, such as generators, transformers, or turbines.
Perform preventive or corrective containment or cleanup measures in hydroelectric plants to prevent environmental contamination.
Start, adjust, or stop generating units, operating valves, gates, or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric power generating plants.
Operate high voltage switches or related devices in hydropower stations.
Operate hydroelectric plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, or battery banks.
Communicate status of hydroelectric operating equipment to dispatchers or supervisors.
Inspect water-powered electric generators or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric plants to verify proper operation or to determine maintenance or repair needs.
Maintain or repair hydroelectric plant electrical, mechanical, or electronic equipment, such as motors, transformers, voltage regulators, generators, relays, battery systems, air compressors, sump pumps, gates, or valves.
Implement load or switching orders in hydroelectric plants, in accordance with specifications or instructions.
Install or calibrate electrical or mechanical equipment, such as motors, engines, switchboards, relays, switch gears, meters, pumps, hydraulics, or flood channels.
Change oil, hydraulic fluid, or other lubricants to maintain condition of hydroelectric plant equipment.
Connect metal parts or components in hydroelectric plants by welding, soldering, riveting, tapping, bolting, bonding, or screwing.
Lift and move loads, using cranes, hoists, and rigging, to install or repair hydroelectric system equipment or infrastructure.
Maintain logs, reports, work requests, or other records of work performed in hydroelectric plants.
Perform tunnel or field inspections of hydroelectric plant facilities or resources.
Take readings and record data, such as water levels, temperatures, or flow rates.
Test and repair or replace electrical equipment, such as circuit breakers, station batteries, cable trays, conduits, or control devices.
Splice or terminate cables or electrical wiring in hydroelectric plants.
Erect scaffolds, platforms, or hoisting frames to access hydroelectric plant machinery or infrastructure for repair or replacement.
Cut, bend, or shape metal for applications in hydroelectric plants, using equipment such as hydraulic benders or pipe threaders.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $61,797
25th percentile: $79,685
50th percentile: $102,045
75th percentile: $119,080
90th percentile: $131,955

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $102,045 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−4.8%projected to decline

202531,859 jobs

2035 projected30,344 jobs

1,515 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Associate degree: 34%
Certificate: 34%
Some college: 22.4%
Bachelor's degree: 6.9%
High school diploma or less: 2.8%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Climate Resilience
Water Resources
Digital Data
Oil and Gas
Control Systems
Fuses
Gantry Crane
Low Voltage
Safety Procedures
Safety Training
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Circuit Breakers
Electricity Generation
High Voltage
Hydraulics
Hydroelectricity
Operational Data Store
SAP Applications
Spillway
Business Software

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Hydro Operators9 postings
02Chief Plant Operators3 postings
03Electrical Apprentices1 postings
04Water Plant Operators1 postings

Top employers

01State of California9 postings
02California State Personnel Board1 postings
03City Of Spokane1 postings
04Department Of Water Resources1 postings
05Northbrook Power Management1 postings
06Oglethorpe Power Corporation1 postings

Keep looking

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median pay: $46,467
Employment outlook: +0.5%

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Median pay: $65,331
Employment outlook: −7.4%

Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate

Median pay: $68,507
Employment outlook: −2.3%

Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

Median pay: $68,507
Employment outlook: −2.3%