Manufacturing career directory
Biomass Plant Technicians
Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
Also called: Auxiliary Operator, Central Heating Plant Operator, Fuel Handler, Fuel Quality Technician (Fuel Quality Tech), Heating Plant Operator, Operations Technician (Operations Tech), Plant Operator, Plant Technician, Steam Plant Operator, Biomass Boiler Operator, Biomass Plant Operator, Biomass Plant Technician, Centrifugal Chiller Technician, Chiller Operator, Chiller Technician, Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Technician
This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.
What the worker does
- Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
- Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
- Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
- Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
- Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
- Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
- Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges.
- Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power.
- Calculate, measure, load, or mix biomass feedstock for power generation.
- Clean work areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Skills, machines and equipment
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Coordination
Education and training
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (46.51% 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) (46.51% 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
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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.