# Power Plant Operators

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-plant-operators
- SOC code: 51-8013.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $102,040 (10th percentile $61,790, 90th percentile $131,940)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.1%
- Openings a year: 2,300
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 97 |
| Investigative (I) | 31 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 69 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 78/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 76/100)
- Getting Information (importance 72/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 72/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 70/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 70/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 65/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 64/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 64/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 64/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1517) (CIP 1517, 224 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ferris State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ferris-state-university-949) | Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | $77,109 | $88,670 | $16,469 |
| [Illinois State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/illinois-state-university-1264) | Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | $58,625 | $76,731 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Hydroelectric Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydroelectric-plant-technicians): $102,040 median pay
- [Biomass Plant Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biomass-plant-technicians): $102,040 median pay
- [Gas Plant Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/gas-plant-operators): $87,820 median pay
- [Geothermal Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geothermal-technicians): $49,230 median pay
- [Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stationary-engineers-and-boiler-operators): $78,620 median pay
- [Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/petroleum-pump-system-operators-refinery-operators-and-gaugers): $96,710 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.