Production
Power plant operator
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Median pay
$102,040
Growth to 2035
−5%
declining
Openings a year
2,300
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Power plant operator
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Power plant operator: 78% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.
Also called: Auxiliary Operator · Control Operator · Control Room Operator · Multicraft Operator (MCO) · Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech) · Plant Control Operator · Plant Operator · Power Plant Operator
Outlook and AI
Power plant operators held 29,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 28,300 by 2035 (−5%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as upgraded technologies incorporated into power plants will make power plant operators more productive.
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