Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. Excludes “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators” (51-8011).
National median · BLS
$102,040
▲ +2.38%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$99,790
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
29,320
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Power Plant Operators
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$61,790
25th
$79,690
Median (50th)
$102,040
75th
$119,080
90th — top pay
$131,940
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Power Plant Operators
BLS projects employment of power plant operators to decline 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 2,300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
29,800 → 28,300
-1,500 jobs
Projected change
-5.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Power Plant Operators salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Power Plant Operators
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring4.0
Operation and Control3.9
Critical Thinking3.8
Speaking3.4
Active Listening3.3
Complex Problem Solving3.3
Monitoring3.3
Judgment and Decision Making3.1
Quality Control Analysis3.1
Reading Comprehension3.1
Top knowledge areas
Mechanical4.0
Public Safety and Security3.7
English Language3.6
Production and Processing3.4
Chemistry3.2
Physics3.1
Engineering and Technology3.0
Design2.8
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft WordSAP softwareComputerized maintenance management system CMMSContinuous emissions monitoring systems CEMSDistributed control system DCSEmail softwareEmerson OvationGas field monitoring system softwareGeneral Electric Mark VI Distributed Control System DCSGeneral Electric Mark VI Integrated Control System ICSInterlock shutdown systemsLandfill gas analysis softwareLandtec System Software LFG Pro
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What power plant operators do
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 OperatorControl Room OperatorOperations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech)Power Plant OperatorControl OperatorMulticraft Operator (MCO)Plant Control OperatorPlant OperatorStation OperatorUnit Operator
Specialties within this occupation
Biomass Plant Technicians
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
More job titles for this occupation (80)
Asphalt Plant OperatorAuxiliary Equipment TenderAuxiliary Power Equipment OperatorBatch Plant OperatorBiomass Boiler OperatorBiomass Plant OperatorBiomass Plant TechnicianBooster OperatorBooster Plant OperatorBooster Pump OperatorCarbon Capture Power Plant EngineerCarbon Capture Power Plant OperatorCarbon Sequestration Plant EngineerCarbon Sequestration Plant OperatorCentral Heating Plant OperatorCentrifugal Chiller TechnicianChiller OperatorChiller TechnicianCoal Gasification Technician (Coal Gasification Tech)Cogeneration Technician (Cogeneration Tech)Control Center OperatorElectric OperatorEnergy and Sustainability ManagerEnergy ManagerEnergy Program ManagerFuel HandlerFuel Quality Technician (Fuel Quality Tech)Generator OperatorHigh Pressure FirerHydro Plant OperatorHydro Station OperatorHydroelectric OperatorHydroelectric Plant OperatorHydroelectric Plant Power Generation EngineerHydroelectric Station OperatorHydrogen Plant OperatorHydrogen Power Plant EngineerICE 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 MonitorLandfill 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)OperatorOutside Plant Technician (Outside Plant Tech)Pilot Plant Technician (Pilot Plant Tech)Plant Technician (Plant Tech)Power Generating Plant OperatorPower Generation Technician (Power Generation Tech)Power OperatorPower Plant Control Room OperatorPower Plant Technician (Power Plant Tech)Power Station OperatorPowerhouse AttendantPowerhouse OperatorPowerhouse TenderProduction GeneralistRectifierRectifier OperatorRelief OperatorRenewable Energy ManagerShift OperatorSolar Energy ManagerStation TenderSteam Turbine OperatorTurbine OperatorTurbine Room AttendantTurbo Electric OperatorTurbo OperatorUtility Plant OperatorWater Plant OperatorWellfield Technician (Wellfield Tech)
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Power Plant Operators, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $102,040.
