Power Plant Operators
Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.
Median salary
$102,040/yr
Typical range
$79,690 – $119,080
Education
High school diploma
Time to entry
No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning
What a Power Plant Operators does
You operate and maintain equipment in power plants that generate electricity through various methods like coal, natural gas, or nuclear energy. This role involves monitoring systems, performing maintenance, and responding to operational challenges.
Education & path
The typical entry point is a high school diploma. No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning.
Estimated cost of that path: No degree cost. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.
Related careers
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers — $74,450/yr
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $48,570/yr
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $53,750/yr
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — $43,220/yr
- Machinists — $58,750/yr
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