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Power Plant Operators
Production · SOC 51-8013
2.6% AI Exposure — Medium
$102,040
Median Annual Salary
Average
O*NET Outlook
3,000
Proj. Annual Openings
29,320
Employment (OEWS 2025)
97/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure2.6%
AI Resiliency97/100
Exposure BandMedium
Sector Avg. Exposure0.8%
Top Skills
1.Operations Monitoring
2.Operations Monitoring
3.Critical Thinking
4.Operation and Control
5.Operation and Control
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Common titles: Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Multicraft Operator (MCO), Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech), Plant Control Operator
Representative Tasks
- •Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
- •Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
- •Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
- •Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
- •Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Operate energy production equipment.
- •Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
- •Operate pumping systems or equipment.
- •Maintain sustainable energy production equipment.
- •Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
Tools & Technologies
Microsoft Outlook · hotMicrosoft PowerPoint · hotMicrosoft Access · hotDistributed control system DCSEmail softwareGeneral Electric Mark VI Distributed Control System DCSLandfill gas analysis softwareLandtec System Software LFG ProOperational Data Store ODS softwareTeknik Segala OSI Plant Information PI System
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
0.5%
Avg AI Exposure
1
Bright Outlook
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 2.6% | 0.8% |
| Outlook | Average | 4% Bright |
| Median Salary | $102,040 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 97/100 | N/A |