Power Plant Operators

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

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, Station Operator, Unit Operator, Asphalt Plant Operator, Auxiliary Equipment Tender, 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, Electric Operator, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Energy Manager, Energy Program Manager, Generator Operator, High Pressure Firer, Hydro Plant Operator, Hydro Station Operator, Hydroelectric Operator, Hydroelectric Plant Operator, Hydroelectric Plant Power Generation Engineer, Hydroelectric Station Operator, Hydrogen Plant Operator, Hydrogen Power Plant Engineer, ICE Technician (Instrumentation, Controls, and Electrical Systems Technician), Instrument and Control Technician (Instrument and Control Tech), Landfill Gas Collecting System Technician (Landfill Gas Collecting System Tech), Landfill Gas Collection System Technician (Landfill Gas Collection System Tech), Landfill Gas Generating System Technician (Landfill Gas Generating System Tech), Landfill Gas Generation System Technician (Landfill Gas Generation System Tech), Landfill Gas Plant Field Technician (Landfill Gas Plant Field Tech), Landfill Gas Systems Monitor, Landfill Gas Technician (Landfill Gas Tech), Methane Gas Generating System Technician (Methane Gas Generating System Tech), Methane Gas Generation System Technician (Methane Gas Generation System Tech), Natural Gas Technician (Natural Gas Tech), Operations and Maintenance Specialist (O and M Specialist), Operations and Management Technician (Operations and Management Tech), Operator, Outside Plant Technician (Outside Plant Tech), Pilot Plant Technician (Pilot Plant Tech), Plant Technician (Plant Tech), Power Generating Plant Operator, Power Generation Technician (Power Generation Tech), Power Operator, Power Plant Control Room Operator, Power Plant Technician (Power Plant Tech), Power Station Operator, Powerhouse Attendant, Powerhouse Operator, Powerhouse Tender, Production Generalist, Rectifier, Rectifier Operator, Relief Operator, Renewable Energy Manager, Shift Operator, Solar Energy Manager, Station Tender, Steam Turbine Operator, Turbine Operator, Turbine Room Attendant, Turbo Electric Operator, Turbo Operator, Utility Plant Operator, Water Plant Operator, Wellfield Technician (Wellfield Tech)

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.
Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Quality Control Analysis
Judgment and Decision Making
Writing
Coordination

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (59.81% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

79,690–119,080 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-8013.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (59.81% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Power Plant Operators