Power Plant Operators
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
78 alternate job titles:
Asphalt Plant Operator
Auxiliary Equipment Tender
Auxiliary Operator
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
Control Operator
Control Room Operator
Electric Operator
Energy and Sustainability 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)
Multicraft Operator (MCO)
Natural Gas Technician (Natural Gas Tech)
Operations and Maintenance Specialist (O and M Specialist)
Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech)
Operations and Management Technician (Operations and Management Tech)
Operator
Outside Plant Technician (Outside Plant Tech)
Pilot Plant Technician (Pilot Plant Tech)
Plant Control Operator
Plant Operator
Plant Technician (Plant Tech)
Power Generating Plant Operator
Power Generation Technician (Power Generation Tech)
Power Operator
Power Plant Control Room Operator
Power Plant Operator
Power Plant Technician (Power Plant Tech)
Power Station Operator
Powerhouse Attendant
Powerhouse Operator
Powerhouse Tender
Production Generalist
Rectifier
Rectifier Operator
Relief Operator
Shift Operator
Solar Energy Manager
Station Operator
Station Tender
Steam Turbine Operator
Turbine Operator
Turbine Room Attendant
Turbo Electric Operator
Turbo Operator
Unit Operator
Utility Plant Operator
Water Plant Operator
Wellfield Technician (Wellfield Tech)
Salary Information
Power Plant Operators: $99,670 (median) per year.
Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
| Task Description | Category |
|---|---|
| Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions. | General |
| Operate energy distribution equipment. | General |
| Operate energy production equipment. | General |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids. | General |
| Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance. | General |
| Operate pumping systems or equipment. | General |
| Exchange information with colleagues. | General |
| Clean production equipment. | General |
| Lubricate production equipment. | General |
| Record operational or production data. | General |
| Collect samples of materials or products for testing. | General |
| Repair production equipment or tools. | General |
| Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs. | General |
| Test electrical equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning. | General |
| Inspect equipment or systems. | General |
| Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems. | General |
| Operate natural gas generation equipment. | General |
| Replace worn equipment components. | General |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | Maintenance |
| Monitor lubrication of equipment or workpieces. | Maintenance |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning. | Maintenance |
| Maintain sustainable energy production equipment. | Maintenance |
| Monitor conditions at energy-producing landfills. | Maintenance |
| Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards. | Maintenance |
| Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems. | Analysis |
Showing 1 to 10 of 0 entries
Technology Requirements
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software |
| Computerized maintenance management system CMMS | Facilities management software |
| Continuous emissions monitoring systems CEMS | Industrial control software |
| Distributed control system DCS | Industrial control software |
| Email software | Electronic mail software |
| Emerson Ovation | Industrial control software |
| Gas field monitoring system software | Industrial control software |
| General Electric Mark VI Distributed Control System DCS | Industrial control software |
| General Electric Mark VI Integrated Control System ICS | Industrial control software |
| Interlock shutdown systems | Industrial control software |
| Landfill gas analysis software | Analytical or scientific software |
| Landtec System Software LFG Pro | Analytical or scientific software |
| Operating system software | Operating system software |
| Safety instrumented system SIS software | Industrial control software |
| Siemens Power Plant Automation SPPA | Industrial control software |
| Siemens Teleperm | Industrial control software |
| Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software | Industrial control software |
| Teknik Segala OSI Plant Information PI System | Industrial control software |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software |
| Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS | Industrial control software |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software |
| Operational Data Store ODS software | Data base user interface and query software |
Showing 1 to 10 of 0 entries
Relevant Certifications
Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:
| Certification | Issuing Organization | Practice Test |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Plant Maintenance Manager | Association for Facilities Engineering | Not Available |
| Certified Plant Supervisor | Association for Facilities Engineering | Not Available |
| Certified Power Quality Professional | Association of Energy Engineers | Not Available |
| Certified System Operator - Balancing and Interchange | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | Not Available |
| Certified System Operator - Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission System Operator | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | Not Available |
| Certified System Operator - Reliability Coordinator System Operator | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | Not Available |
| Certified System Operator - Transmission System Operator | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | Not Available |
| Energy Efficiency Management Certificate Program | American Public Power Association | Not Available |
| Key Account Certificate Program | American Public Power Association | Not Available |
| Public Power Customer Service Manager | American Public Power Association | Not Available |
| Public Power Manager | American Public Power Association | Not Available |
| SAP Certified Associate - Utilities with SAP ERP 6.0 | SAP America, Inc. | Not Available |
| System Operator Certification | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | Not Available |
Showing 1 to 10 of 0 entries