Career Overview
Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
Also Known As
- Auxiliary Operator
- Fuel Handler
- Operations Technician (Operations Tech)
- Plant Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- Auxiliary Operator
- Biomass Boiler Operator
- Biomass Plant Operator
- Biomass Plant Technician
- Central Heating Plant Operator
- Centrifugal Chiller Technician
- Chiller Operator
- Chiller Technician
- Fuel Handler
- Fuel Quality Technician (Fuel Quality Tech)
- Heating Plant Operator
- Operations Technician (Operations Tech)
- Plant Operator
- Plant Technician
- Steam Plant Operator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
- Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
- Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
- Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
- Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
- Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
- Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Near Vision
- Control Precision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
- Reaction Time
- Perceptual Speed
- Multilimb Coordination
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Visualization
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Working Conditions
- Support
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Belt conveyor systems
- Biomass boilers
- Biomass dryers
- Biomass screeners
- Bubbling fluidized bed boilers
- Circulating fluidized bed boilers
- Desktop computers
- Disc screeners
- Drive-on scales
- Dump trucks
- Fuel metering conveyors
- Grinders
- Hammer hogs
- Heat recovery steam generators
- Laptop computers
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Power Plant Operators occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Biomass Plant Technicians.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $59,930 |
| Median | $99,670 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $128,760 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 30,720
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Biomass Power Plant Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $121,440
Biofuels Processing Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,710
Power Plant Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $99,670
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $75,190
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,260
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.