SOC 51-8013.00

    Power Plant Operators

    Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power.

    Median pay
    $102,040
    Growth
    -5.1%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    2,300
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $61,790
    Median
    $102,040
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $131,940
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    29,320 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Power plant operators control and maintain the machinery used to generate electricity. This career offers a median annual pay of $102,040, with opportunities for individuals who have a high school diploma.

    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.

    What power plant operators do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

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

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career spend their days controlling machines and processes to generate electric power. They monitor equipment, materials, and their surroundings to ensure everything runs safely and efficiently. Operators inspect equipment, perform repairs, and maintain mechanical systems. They also gather information, solve complex problems, make critical decisions, and communicate regularly with their supervisors and peers.

    This role is a strong fit for individuals with realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work. Success in this field requires skills in operations monitoring, operation and control, critical thinking, active listening, and quality control analysis. Operators must have a solid understanding of mechanical systems, public safety, production processes, chemistry, and physics. Important work styles for this job include cautiousness, attention to detail, dependability, stress tolerance, and self-control, as operators must handle high-pressure situations safely.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, candidates typically need a high school diploma. This occupation is classified as requiring some preparation, meaning that most workers enter the field with a high school education and then gain the necessary skills through on-the-job training or practical experience.

    Students interested in this pathway can prepare by studying energy systems technologies and technicians in college. While not always required to start, professionals in this field can pursue certifications to advance their careers. Relevant credentials include the Public Power Customer Service Manager and the Public Power Manager certifications, both offered by the American Public Power Association.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for power plant operators is $102,040. The lowest 10% of earners in this field make less than $61,790, while the highest 10% earn more than $131,940.

    There are currently 29,320 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -5.1%. Despite this decline in total jobs, there are still projected to be 2,300 job openings each year to replace workers who leave the field.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    97 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    31 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    4 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    16 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    69 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Controlling Machines and Processes
    78
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    76
    Getting Information
    72
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    72
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    70
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    70
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    65
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    64
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    64
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    64
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

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

    Knowledge

    • Mechanical
    • Public Safety and Security
    • English Language
    • Production and Processing
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Design
    • Education and Training
    • Administration and Management

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Far Vision
    • Flexibility of Closure

    Work styles

    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Control
    • Integrity
    • Perseverance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    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

    Career pathway

    From your interests to power plant operators

    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.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Power Plant Operators$102,040 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong 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.

    1. 1Ferris State University logo
      Ferris State University

      Big Rapids, MI · Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $77,109
      4 yrs after
      $88,670
      Median debt
      $16,469
    2. 2Illinois State University logo
      Illinois State University

      Normal, IL · Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $58,625
      4 yrs after
      $76,731
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What power plant operators may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Hydroelectric Energy Technology/Technician
    • Power Plant Technology/Technician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    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 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about power plant operators

    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.

    What are some alternative job titles for power plant operators?

    Workers in this field are also known as auxiliary operators, booster pump operators, asphalt plant operators, and batch plant operators. Some specialized roles include carbon capture power plant operators and carbon capture power plant engineers.

    What kind of education do I need to become a power plant operator?

    You typically only need a high school diploma to enter this field. Most preparation occurs through on-the-job training and practical experience once you are hired.

    What certifications are available for this career?

    Operators can earn professional credentials through the American Public Power Association. These include the Public Power Manager and the Public Power Customer Service Manager certifications.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.