Career Overview
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Also Known As
- Auxiliary Operator
- Control Room Operator
- Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech)
- Power Plant Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Perceptual Speed
- Far Vision
- Written Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 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 Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Absorbers
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Air compressors
- Air filtration mask
- Air heaters
- Air samplers
- All terrain vehicles ATV
- Analog panel meters
- Annunciators
- Attemperators
- Backhoes
- Belt conveyors
- Blowers
- Boiler gauge glasses
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
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| 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:
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $99,670
Biomass Plant Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $99,670
Gas Plant Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $83,400
Geothermal Technicians
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,640
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
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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.