What they do
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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.
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| Also called: |
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Hydro Plant Technician, Hydro Technician, Hydroelectric Mechanic, Hydroelectric Operations and Maintenance Technician (Hydro O and M Technician), Hydroelectric Plant Technician, Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Technician), Plant Mechanic, Power Plant Mechanic, Power Plant Operator, Power Plant Technician
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Wages
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| Power Plant Operators* |
| Vermont - 2023 |
| Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
| 10% |
$ 21.65 |
$45,020 |
| 25% |
$ 27.20 |
$56,580 |
| Median |
$ 39.60 |
$82,370 |
| 75% |
$ 46.49 |
$96,700 |
| 90% |
$ 56.81 |
$118,170 |
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| Average |
$ 39.40 |
$81,940 |
| * 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? |
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| More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| Power Plant Operators* |
| United States - 2020 |
| Industry | Percent of total |
| 70% |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 11% |
- Educational services; state, local, and private
| 4% |
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
| 2% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 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 |
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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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- Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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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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- 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.
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- Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
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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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- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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- Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
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- Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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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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- 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.
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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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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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- 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: |
- Operate high voltage switches or related devices in hydropower stations.
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- Identify or address malfunctions of hydroelectric plant operational equipment, such as generators, transformers, or turbines.
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- Inspect water-powered electric generators or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric plants to verify proper operation or to determine maintenance or repair needs.
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- Implement load or switching orders in hydroelectric plants, in accordance with specifications or instructions.
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- Start, adjust, or stop generating units, operating valves, gates, or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric power generating plants.
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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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| Power Plant Operators* |
| Vermont |
| 2020 employment |
74 |
| 2030 employment |
71 |
Annual percent change
(compounded) |
-0.4% |
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 |
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Education and Experience:
| Power Plant Operators* |
- 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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| * 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 |
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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 Very Important
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- Level of activity is High
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| Low |  | High |
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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.
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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 | | 7% |
| Associate's degree | | 16% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 48% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 22% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 7% |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- 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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- Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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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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- 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).
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Work Activities
| In general, what you might do: |
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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- 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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- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
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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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- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
- Operate energy production equipment.
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- Diagnose equipment malfunctions.
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- Inspect sustainable energy production facilities or equipment.
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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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