- Energy
- Is Energy A Good Career Path
- Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path
- Is Electric Utilities Central A Good Career Path
- Is Oil & Gas Production A Good Career Path
- Is Power Generation A Good Career Path
- Is Integrated Oil Companies A Good Career Path
- Is Coal Mining A Good Career Path
- Jobs Available In Public Utilities
- Jobs Available In Natural Gas Distribution
- What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay
Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, power generation is a good career path. Power generation or energy is a key part of how the world lives its lives. Power generation enables us to have basic electricity, which powers virtually everything we rely on in today’s modern world. The industry is only expanding, as well, with the advent of renewable energy.
In power generation, you can enjoy a number of exciting benefits, including job stability and satisfaction. If you’re interested in helping others or researching new ways to produce energy while sustaining the environment, a career in power generation could be ideal for you.
Here are 9 great jobs in power generation:
The 8 Best-Paying Jobs in Power Generation
Power generation is essential to our survival, and many jobs are paid to match that importance. Power generation is reliant on a number of engineers, scientists, and developers, all of whom must be highly trained and skilled in their fields. Here are some of the highest-paid jobs in power generation.
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Average Annual Salary: $76,000
Civil engineers are the individuals who design, build, and supervise infrastructure projects and systems. This is one of the oldest engineering disciplines, encompassing the development and maintenance of things like roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and more.
Primary responsibilities in this role include planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting public and environmental health. Civil engineers are also tasked with improving existing infrastructure that may have been neglected over time.
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Solar Project Developer
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Solar project developers are individuals that work for an organization that creates solar farms or residential solar projects. These developers find the best sites and technologies to develop the most effective solar panel projects for their clients who are looking to switch from fossil fuels to solar energy.
Solar developers are responsible for finding land for solar farming, interacting with their clients, and assessing the land itself to see how the energy generated can connect to the electrical grid. They will obtain permits, money, labor, and equipment needed to build their project.
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Average Annual Salary: $92,000
Petroleum engineers are individuals who design or develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits that are found beneath the Earth’s surface. Petroleum engineers are highly trained and skilled in this area of labor and generally work at offices or directly at drilling and well sites.
This job is highly paid and typically requires a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or a highly related field like mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering. Additionally, those looking to enter this career may gain practical experience in cooperative-education programs that can help them stand out from the competition.
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Average Annual Salary: $55,000
Environmental scientists are scientists and specialists who use their knowledge of natural science in order to protect our environment or the health of our population. These individuals may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with industry in order to reduce waste or strain on the environment.
Environmental scientists focus specifically on the surrounding environment where they live, such as air, land, and water, and work to protect natural resources and human health in their community. The ultimate goal they have is to strengthen existing environmental protections and enact new ones, whether through research or policies.
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Average Annual Salary: $80,000
Solar sales representatives are individuals who contact new or existing customers in order to determine their solar power equipment needs, suggest new systems or equipment, and estimate the overall cost for their clients.
They may be required to conduct sales presentations, develop proposals, and customize energy products or services.
Because this is a sales position, it’s more beneficial for you to have sales experience rather than energy experience in this instance. Customer and personal service are also beneficial when looking to land a job as a solar sales representative. You’ll need to be slightly technical to be able to articulate any technical details to potential clients.
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Electrical Power Line Installer
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Individuals who work as electrical power line installers do exactly what their title suggests — install power lines. They also maintain the power grid or the network of power lines that moves electricity from generating plants to customers. This can be a dangerous job, as most work with high-voltage electricity requires caution.
However, because of the hazards of this job, it is highly paid. This work is physically demanding, but often employees enjoy a very reliable schedule that operates during business hours. Apprenticeships are common in this line of work, and most line installers require technical instruction and on-the-job training.
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Average Annual Salary: $92,000
Geoscientists are scientists who study the physical aspects of our Earth, including its composition, structure, and process, in order to learn about its past, present, and future. Geoscientists work both inside and outside, so for this career, you’ll want to be sure you don’t mind all-weather conditions.
Research and investigation done by geoscientists outside are called fieldwork and can require irregular working hours as well as travel to locations that are often remote. Because this job is in the sciences, it requires not only a bachelor’s degree but often a master’s degree as well.
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Oil and Gas Service Unit Operator
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Those working as oil and gas service unit operators work in drilling as well as mining operations to troubleshoot any drilling issues, then work to resolve them. This includes using equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or removing clogged pipes, tools, or any other obstructions.
Oil and gas service unit operators will perform safety inspections, operate controls, and listen to engines, rotary chains, and other equipment in order to detect any faulty operations or unusual conditions. For this job, you’ll want to be sure you have a steady hand and finger use, controlled movement, and great attention to detail.
7 Entry-Level Jobs in Power Generation
Power generation often values experience over education, in many regards. Because it is a highly skilled trade, it’s much easier to train employees on the job or via apprenticeships. However, if you’re interested in working your way up in this field, you may choose an entry-level engineering job. Here are some great entry-level jobs in power generation.
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Average Annual Salary: $43,000
In power generation, maintenance technicians troubleshoot, service, and monitor a variety of complex combustion systems, including hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical components. They may be required to perform service support on-site and troubleshoot a variety of challenging environments.
Employees may be required to troubleshoot a number of things, so problem-solving skills are a must. Employers typically require a high school diploma or equivalent and may require some specialized training such as an associate degree or specific training certificates. However, many offer on-the-job training, as well as apprenticeships.
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Entry Level Mechanical Engineer
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Entry-level mechanical engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for researching, designing, developing, and testing mechanical and thermal devices. This can include machines, engines, and tools. They may also be tasked with building certain machinery, ensuring they operate effectively, and addressing any issues.
Entry-level mechanical engineers are individuals who are looking to enter the job market after obtaining a degree. This is one of the broadest fields in engineering, with opportunities available in a wide variety of specialties, power generation being a prominent career path.
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Entry Level Controls Engineer
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Entry-level controls engineers are responsible for designing and testing different control theories, troubleshooting control issues that may impact machine performance, and refining control parameters in order to improve overall machine performance in the plant.
Similar to the entry-level mechanical engineer, these entry-level controls engineers are individuals who have completed their degree in civil engineering, geology, construction management, environmental science, or something similar. This entry-level position does not require any previous experience.
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Solar Power Installer
Average Annual Salary: N/A
A solar power installer is an individual who installs and maintains solar panels on residential homes, businesses, or on solar farmland. These solar power installers are also responsible for grounding any necessary equipment and ensuring safety standards and codes are met.
Solar power installers must work outside. This job also requires many to work high off the ground, making this job somewhat dangerous. Employees must have a high school diploma to gain an entry-level position and work to learn on the job how to assemble, install, and maintain solar power systems over the course of a year.
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Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Power plant operators are responsible for controlling power-generation equipment, reading charts, meters, and gauges to monitor voltage and electricity flows, as well as checking equipment and indicators to detect any issues. They may also need to adjust controls to regular power flow and have extensive knowledge of all machinery.
This job requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and extensive training is required. Many power plant operators undergo rigorous, long-term on-the-job training and technical instruction over the course of several years. Once you are fully qualified, operators must continue to take regular training courses.
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Average Annual Salary: $58,000
Power technicians are individuals who construct and maintain mechanisms used in electrical power generation, power transmission, and power distribution. They are also responsible for maintaining and repairing any power generators, electrical transformers, power conversions, and circuit breakers that may need attention.
Power technicians are also tasked with documenting installation procedures and repairs and often input this into computer software. They must follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations as well as any of the company’s safety rules and regulations.
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Average Annual Salary: $54,000
Field service technicians are those individuals who come to residences or businesses if there is an issue with their power. They provide on-site support and must analyze, troubleshoot, and evaluate technical issues in the field. They must be well-versed in their products and recruitment and provide programming, maintenance, and repairs.
Field service is not your typical office job. In this role, you would be working directly in the field, meaning you must like to travel and interact with customers on a regular basis. Field service technicians must adhere to a schedule and maintain proper documentation on all site visits.
Why Choose a Career in Power Generation?
Power generation is such an important part of our everyday lives that choosing a career path in this industry can sometimes be daunting. There are many different needs and required skills needed for this industry while enjoying a number of wonderful benefits listed below.
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Growing industry. With the introduction of renewable and green energy options, this market is significantly expanding in many different ways. This means you’ll not only have your choice of career path, but you’ll enjoy job security for a long time.
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Different options. Choose from a wide variety of different power generation paths, including wind, solar, oil, gas, and more. Additionally, many of the skills you learn in one trade can be applicable to another if the industry has a major shift.
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High pay. Power generation is essential to our survival and wellbeing on a global scale, and the pay often matches this need. Regardless of your position in this career, you’ll receive consistently lucrative paychecks with potential for growth.
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Environmental impact. If you are passionate about the environment, working in power generation is a great way to ensure you’re consistently looking at ways to improve how we treat our environment in relation to power generation.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Power Generation
If you’re interested in building a career in power generation, you may be interested in understanding the education and certification requirements for this field. Because the field is so diverse, these requirements can differ.
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A Bachelor’s degree is required for engineering disciplines. In this field, most study electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or business. It is also possible to start your career with an associate degree in a related field.
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Many entry-level jobs in power generation do not require secondary education and only require a high school diploma or GED, making it much more cost-effective to join this field.
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Having knowledge in electrical, power distribution, and transmission can set you apart from your competition. If you are entering the renewable energy field, it will also help to have high-level knowledge of this field, as well.
What Do People Working In Power Generation Do?
Power generation is the process of generating electricity or power by converting other forms of energy. Our world depends on power now, more than ever. Our global economies and healthcare are dependent on having reliable energy sources to power lights, vehicles, refrigeration, and modern conveniences.
Considering the high demand for power, a career in power generation is a great career choice. Additionally, the need for green energy is becoming more and more pressing, opening a wide variety of job opportunities for employees who can help generate renewable energy via wind, solar, geothermal, eligible biomass, biogas, and other low-impact hydroelectric projects.
- Energy
- Is Energy A Good Career Path
- Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path
- Is Electric Utilities Central A Good Career Path
- Is Oil & Gas Production A Good Career Path
- Is Power Generation A Good Career Path
- Is Integrated Oil Companies A Good Career Path
- Is Coal Mining A Good Career Path
- Jobs Available In Public Utilities
- Jobs Available In Natural Gas Distribution
- What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay
Author
Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.
