What they do
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Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
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| Also called: |
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Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Multicraft Operator (MCO), Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech), Plant Control Operator, Plant Operator, Power Plant Operator, Station Operator, Unit Operator
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Wages
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| Vermont - 2024 |
| Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
| 10% |
$ 22.83 |
$47,480 |
| 25% |
$ 37.92 |
$78,880 |
| Median |
$ 47.24 |
$98,260 |
| 75% |
$ 49.23 |
$102,390 |
| 90% |
$ 62.11 |
$129,180 |
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| Average |
$ 45.10 |
$93,810 |
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| More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| United States - 2022 |
| Industry | Percent of total |
| 73% |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 13% |
- Educational services; state, local, and private
| 3% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 2% |
- State government, excluding education and hospitals
| 2% |
| More at BLS |
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Knowledge
| People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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- Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
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- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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- Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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- Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
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| More at O*NET |
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Skills
| People in this career often have these skills: |
- Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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| More at O*NET |
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Interests
| People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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| What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
| People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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| More at O*NET |
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Tasks
| On the job, you would: |
- Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
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- Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
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- Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
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- Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
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- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
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| More at O*NET |
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| Related Occupations
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| Career Video
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Projected Employment
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| Vermont |
| 2022 employment |
105 |
| 2032 employment |
94 |
Annual percent change
(compounded) |
-1.1% |
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations) |
7 |
| More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Long-term on-the-job training
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| Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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- Physical activity is Important
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- Level of activity is High
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| Low |  | High |
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Job Zone
| Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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| Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
| How much education do most people in this career have? |
| Education level |  | Percent of
U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate | | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree | | 13% |
| Associate's degree | | 14% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 10% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 60% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 3% |
| More at O*NET |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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- Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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- Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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- Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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| More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
| In general, what you might do: |
- Controlling Machines and Processes
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
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- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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| More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
- Operate energy production equipment.
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- Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
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- Operate pumping systems or equipment.
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- Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
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- Maintain sustainable energy production equipment.
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| More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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