Power Plant Operators

ManufacturingO*NET 51-8013.00United States

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $102,045
Projected change: −4.8%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 31.86K jobs

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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 power plant operators do

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

Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.
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.
Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units.
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.
Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland or pipe joints.

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.

High school diploma or less: 63.3%
Associate degree: 14.3%
Bachelor's degree: 12.5%
Certificate: 8.2%
Some college: 1.7%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

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

Project Management
Business Development
Finance
Environmental Science
Regulatory Compliance
Energy Management
HVAC
Marketing
Invoicing
Accounting
Procurement
Energy Market
Environment Health And Safety
Continuous Improvement Process
Customer Relationship Management
Influencing Without Authority
Decarbonation
Boilers
Renewable Energy
Construction

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.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
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

01Power Plant Operators338 postings
02Energy Managers215 postings
03Energy Efficiency Program Managers148 postings
04Environmental Techs104 postings
05Energy Program Managers78 postings
06Activation Managers67 postings
07Energy Efficiency Engineers64 postings
08Energy and Sustainability Managers59 postings
09Characterization Engineers53 postings
10Process Managers52 postings
11Energy Efficiency Directors43 postings
12Renewable Energy Managers43 postings
13Engineers42 postings
14Energy Efficiency Analysts39 postings
15Power Supply Engineers39 postings
16Directors of Energy Services32 postings
17Power Plant Control Room Operators30 postings
18Marshals29 postings
19Commercial/Industrial Electricians28 postings
20Power Plant Engineers28 postings

Top employers

01Waste Management174 postings
02Meta161 postings
03General Motors68 postings
04ICF International63 postings
05Cadmus International Limited51 postings
06Constellation Energy46 postings
07Exelon45 postings
08Guidehouse40 postings
09GPAC28 postings
10MedStar28 postings
11Peak Demand28 postings
12The Jpi Group24 postings
13Tsr Consulting Services24 postings
14CBRE23 postings
15WSP Global21 postings
16Resource Innovations20 postings
17Energy Solutions Co. Ltd19 postings
18Actalent18 postings
19Boeing18 postings
20JLL18 postings

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