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Skilled Trades

Power Plant Operators

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

Median salary (BLS)

$102,040

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$62k – $132k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 3 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Plan a path to Power Plant Operators

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Power Plant Operators" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Power Plant Operators

    Entry / Junior

    $61,790

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Power Plant Operators

    Established

    $102,040

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Power Plant Operators

    Senior

    $116,990

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.