Management
Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Median pay
- $126,060
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
SOC 11-3051.02
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Industrial production managers"
Annual pay range
246,250 people work in this occupation.
In short
Geothermal production managers oversee operations at geothermal power plants to ensure safe and efficient energy generation. This career offers a median annual pay of $126,060, with opportunities in a growing renewable energy sector.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.
Geothermal production managers oversee the daily operations of geothermal power generation facilities. Their primary responsibility is to maintain and monitor plant equipment to ensure everything runs safely and efficiently. Day-to-day activities include organizing, planning, and prioritizing plant work, scheduling activities, and coordinating the efforts of team members. Managers must communicate constantly with supervisors and subordinates, make critical decisions, and solve complex problems on-site.
This role aligns with realistic interests, as it involves hands-on coordination of physical systems and technology. To succeed, managers need strong skills in critical thinking, personnel management, time management, and active listening. They must also possess deep knowledge in several areas, including mechanical systems, engineering and technology, public safety, and administration. Monitoring processes and surroundings is vital to prevent equipment failures and maintain a secure environment for all personnel.
To enter this field, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree, though some individuals secure positions with medium preparation, such as vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience. Relevant college majors that prepare students for this career include business administration, management and operations, general business, industrial engineering, and engineering-related fields.
Because this role involves overseeing complex industrial processes and managing teams, gaining practical experience in power plant operations or industrial production is highly beneficial. There are no specific licenses or certifications listed as mandatory for this occupation, but a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, and production processing is essential for managing geothermal facilities.
The median annual pay for geothermal production managers is $126,060. The lowest 10% of earners in this field make less than $78,000, while the highest 10% earn more than $205,520. These wage figures represent the broader occupational group of industrial production managers.
There are 246,250 people employed in this broader category. Employment is projected to grow by 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Approximately 17,000 job openings are expected each year during this period.
Interest code RCE. Compare it with yours
Decommissioning Well Site Manager · Geothermal Operations Manager · Geothermal Plant Manager · Geothermal Product Manager · Geothermal Production Manager · Industrial Production Manager · Mitigation Supervisor · Plant Manager · Plant Operations Coordinator · Plant Superintendent
Career pathway
Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.
1Interests
2This career
3Majors
4Colleges
Interests
This career
Majors
Colleges
College Scorecard program outcomes
Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.
Pittsburgh, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Ann Arbor, MI · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Berkeley, CA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Boston, MA · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's
Brookville, NY · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's
Philadelphia, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Atlanta, GA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
2,372 colleges offer it
975 colleges offer it
230 colleges offer it
175 colleges offer it
151 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What geothermal production managers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Your plan
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
People in this role may be called geothermal operations managers, geothermal plant managers, plant superintendents, decommissioning well site managers, or mitigation supervisors.
Students can prepare for this career by majoring in business administration, management and operations, industrial engineering, general business, or engineering-related fields.
Employment for the broader group of industrial production managers is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations, resulting in about 17,000 annual openings.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Page data updated November 5, 2026.