What do they do?

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

Also known as:

Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Multicraft Operator (MCO), Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech), Operator, Plant Control Operator, Plant Operator, Plant Technician (Plant Tech), Power Plant Operator, Station Operator, Unit Operator

Typical Wages

Wages$0$28K$56K$84K$112K$140KPercentiles10th25thMedian75th90th$54k$72k$97k$106k$123k

Projected Growth Rate

Declining

Employment of Power Plant Operators is projected to Decline 12 percent from 2022 to 2032

Projected Employment For All United States

No Data Available
Employment2022203232,20028,200
  • -12.4%

    Change

    Select a state to see its job growth rate ranking
    2,100

    Job Openings

    Select a state to see its net job growth ranking

Best colleges for Power Plant Operators

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Colleges with the most graduates that become Power Plant Operators

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Some college, no degree  (31%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (24%)
  • Associate's degree  (20%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (19%)
  • Master's degree  (4%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (2%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Power Plant Operators

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★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have these skills:

  • 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.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Operate energy production equipment.
  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Operate pumping systems or equipment.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Maintain sustainable energy production equipment.
  • Operate energy distribution equipment.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids.
  • Exchange information with colleagues.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
  • Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
  • Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Monitor lubrication of equipment or workpieces.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Repair production equipment or tools.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 29.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

careeronestop logo Videos: CareerOneStop, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development

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