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Power Plant Operator Duties and Responsibilities

No two power plant operators are exactly alike, as specific skills vary from employer to employer. However, after analyzing online job postings, we identified several core duties and responsibilities common to the job:

Monitor Charts and Power Gauges Power plant operators take chart readings, monitor gauges, and examine sensors to view voltage and electricity flows. They make necessary adjustments to temperature and pressure. They also review indicators to detect evidence of any operating problems. A plant operator’s job is to maintain logs and records in accordance with department procedures and federal policy.

Control Power-Generating Equipment Adjusting controls to regulate the flow of power is a major responsibility of power plant operators. They control power-generating equipment such as turbines, generators, and reactors, using control boards or semiautomatic machines. At any moment they can start or stop generators or connect and disconnect equipment from circuits.

Prevent Equipment Deterioration Power plant operators maintain equipment under their care, such as pumps, generators, turbines, and compressors. Their responsibility is to help prevent failure and deterioration of all plant equipment. Power plant operators ensure that their entire facility is maintained according to proper regulations. It’s also their responsibility to record and compile operational information.

Facilitate Equipment Cleaning and Repair Plant operators communicate with system operators to control and coordinate transmission loads, frequencies, and line voltages in order to repair equipment. They often directly make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland and pipe joints. An operator also creates equipment malfunction reports and inspects equipment to evaluate whether it’s operating properly after repair.

Perform Safety Prevention Safety is the number one priority of power plant operators. They implement and follow all safety programs, environmental programs, and operations procedures. Power plant operators secure the safety of all personnel. Their job also protects members of their plant’s surrounding community. Power plant operators complete the necessary actions to prevent environmental spills or toxic releases. When incidents happen, their job is to minimize the damage.

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Power Plant Operator Skills and Qualifications

Power plant operators should be mechanically savvy with a passion for leadership and problem-solving. Licensing requirements vary by state, but a high school diploma and some maintenance experience are generally sought out. Employers also prefer candidates who possess the following abilities:
  • Equipment inspection – power plant operators must inspect and assess equipment operating statuses
  • Operational skills – power plant operators have to comprehend how all the different pieces in their facility work together. They monitor, adjust, and repair these items constantly
  • Mechanical skills – this job requires attention to detail and mechanical skills to spot and address possible equipment malfunctions with a high degree of accuracy when interpreting gauges, dials, thermometers, meters, and devices
  • Troubleshooting – these operators regularly troubleshoot problems to repair plant mechanical equipment and systems
  • Communication skills – the ability to communicate with coworkers in a clear, concise, and courteous manner is essential for power plant operators
  • Leadership skills operators provide mentoring and training to less experienced plant personnel and coworkers
  • Physical fitness – power plant operator positions have physical requirements, including walking up and down stairs, lifting up to 50 pounds, crawling, stooping, and kneeling in tight spaces
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Power Plant Operator Education and Training

There is no specific length of training or experience required for entry-level power plant operator positions. Employers do prefer some type of mechanical aptitude or proven ability to quickly learn job tasks. Several employers administer aptitude tests and willingly train candidates who demonstrate the right skills. An associate’s degree in power plant or process technology is also highly desirable.
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Power Plant Operator Salary and Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists the median annual salary for power plant operators as $80,440. The lowest 10 percent of people in this profession earn less than $49,210. The highest 10 percent of earners make more than $108,240 annually. Operators who work full time get access to health coverage and paid vacation time. The job prospects of plant operators are expected to show minimal change through 2026. Power plants are becoming more efficient, which limits the need for new workers. Therefore, even though electricity usage is growing, technology limits the amount of job growth opportunities.
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Helpful Resources

If you’re interested in pursuing work as a power plant operator, check out these additional resources for more information:

National Association of Power Engineers – this professional association provides excellent online courses and other educational tools to help you start training as a power plant operator

Power Plant Operator Career: The Insider's Guide to Finding a Job at an Amazing Firm, Acing the Interview & Getting Promoted – learn everything you need to know to win your first power plant operator job

Power Plant Control Room Operator RED-HOT Career – prepare and test yourself for your first power plant control room operator interview

American Public Power Association – this association represents 2,000 towns, 49 million people, and 93,000 employees working in public power, and supports its members with training and technology

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