Skilled Trades

Power Plant Operators

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

Median salary

$99,670

Typical range

$60k – $129k

Job outlook

See national outlook

AI exposure

Plan a path to Power Plant Operators

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

•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.

Any field

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