Data & Research
 
* ELMI Occupation Profile - Hydroelectric Plant Technicians *
 
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
(O*NET 51-8013.04, SOC 51-8013)
What they do
Monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation. Operate plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, and battery banks. Monitor equipment operation and performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure optimal performance. Perform equipment maintenance and repair as necessary.
 
Also called:
Hydro Plant Technician (Hydro Plant Tech), Hydro Technician (Hydro Tech), Hydroelectric Mechanic, Hydroelectric Operations and Maintenance Technician (Hydro O and M Technician), Hydroelectric Operator, Hydroelectric Plant Mechanic, Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Technician), Plant Mechanic, Power Plant Mechanic, Power Plant Technician (Power Plant Tech)
 
 
Wages
Power Plant Operators*
Vermont - 2024
Percentile1HourlyYearly
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  
 
Average $ 45.10   $93,810  
* You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Hydroelectric Plant Technicians" for which wage information is not available.
1 What are Percentile Wages?
More at CareerOneStop
 
Industries of Employment
Power Plant Operators*
United States - 2022
IndustryPercent of total
  • Utilities
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%
* You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Hydroelectric Plant Technicians" for which industries of employment information is not available.
More at BLS
 
Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about:
  • Mechanical
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • 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.
  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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Skills
People in this career often have these skills:
  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Equipment Maintenance
    Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Operations Monitoring
    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and Control
    Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Monitoring
    Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
More at O*NET
 
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.
  • 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.
  • Investigative
    Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler
 
Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Independence
    Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
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Tasks
On the job, you would:
  • Monitor hydroelectric power plant equipment operation and performance, adjusting to performance specifications, as necessary.
  • Identify or address malfunctions of hydroelectric plant operational equipment, such as generators, transformers, or turbines.
  • Start, adjust, or stop generating units, operating valves, gates, or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric power generating plants.
  • Perform preventive or corrective containment or cleanup measures in hydroelectric plants to prevent environmental contamination.
  • Inspect water-powered electric generators or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric plants to verify proper operation or to determine maintenance or repair needs.
More at O*NET
 
Related Occupations
More at O*NET
 
 
Career Video
Watch at CareerOneStop with transcript or at YouTube.
 
Projected Employment
Power Plant Operators*
 Vermont
2022 employment 105
2032 employment 94
Annual percent change
(compounded)
-1.1%
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations)
7
* You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Hydroelectric Plant Technicians" for which projected employment information is not available.
More at Occupational Projections
 
Education and Experience:
Power Plant Operators*
  • Typical education needed for entry
    High school diploma or equivalent
  • Work experience in a related occupation
    None
  • Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
    Long-term on-the-job training
* You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Hydroelectric Plant Technicians" for which education and experience information is not available.
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications
 
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.
 
  • Physical activity is Very Important
  • Level of activity is High
Importance
Low   High
Level
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Job Zone
Medium Preparation Needed
  • Specific Vocational Preparation Range
    (6.0 to < 7.0) - A typical worker will require over 1 year up to and including 2 years of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP
 
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   7%
Associate's degree   34%
Certificate or some college,
no degree
  56%
High school diploma
or equivalent
  3%
Less than high school diploma   0%
More at O*NET
 
Abilities
People in this career often have talent in:
  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • 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.
  • Control Precision
    The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Information Ordering
    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
More at O*NET
 
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).
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
More at O*NET
 
Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day:
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
  • Diagnose equipment malfunctions.
  • Operate energy production equipment.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Inspect sustainable energy production facilities or equipment.
More at O*NET
 
Other Resources
  • CareerOneStop
    resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
  • O*NET Online
    nation's primary source of occupational information
 
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This page includes information from the O*NET 29.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

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This page includes information produced in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and State Occupational Projections programs.

 
 
 
 
Vermont.gov State of Vermont Department of Labor