MENU

Power Plant Operators

General Information

Description

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

Explore this career in the military

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Overall employment of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers is projected to decline 15 percent from 2021 to 2031. Despite decliningemployment, about 3,200 openings for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Read More

Job Outlook

×

Overall employment of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers is projected to decline 15 percent from 2021 to 2031. Despite decliningemployment, about 3,200 openings for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Similar Careers

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$80,850

Military salary*

$61,814

Explore this career in the Military

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$104,110
$38,290
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 73%
  • Post-secondary certificate 20%
  • Associate's degree 3%
  • Some college 1%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Education and Training

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.