How To Become A Control Room Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a control room operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A control room operator monitors and regulates the operations of a facility or system from a centralized location. They use specialized software and equipment to collect and analyze data, diagnose issues, and make decisions to maintain efficiency and safety. Control room operators may work in the energy, transportation, or manufacturing industries. In addition to technical skills, they must possess strong communication and problem-solving abilities to effectively collaborate with other professionals and respond quickly to emergencies.

ScoreControl Room OperatorUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,733

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate -15%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.40%

Asian 1.49%

Black or African American 5.78%

Hispanic or Latino 7.88%

Unknown 5.47%

White 76.98%

Gender

female 14.78%

male 85.22%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a control room operator?

Pros

Opportunities for advancement
Challenging and exciting work environment
Ability to work with advanced technology
Chance to work in a team-oriented environment
Ability to learn important skills and knowledge

Cons

High-pressure work environment
Risk of experiencing traumatic events
Need for constant vigilance and attention to detail
Limited social interaction with coworkers or public
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation

Key steps to become a control room operator

Explore control room operator education requirements

Most common control room operator degrees

Bachelor's

36.4 %

Associate

26.5 %

High School Diploma

22.8 %

Start to develop specific control room operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Control Room Operations	7.75%
Plant Operations	7.47%
Safety Procedures	7.32%
Plant Equipment	6.27%
Ladders	6.08%

Complete relevant control room operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New control room operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a control room operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real control room operator resumes.

Gain additional control room operator certifications

Control room operator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific control room operator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for control room operators include OSHA Safety Certificate and Municipal Waste Facility Operator (QRO).

More About Certifications

Research control room operator duties and responsibilities

Lead and manage the redesign of system SCADA schematic's, revise system load calculations and regional load shedding programs.
Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Perform inspections of area by accessing ladders and stairwells.
Run coating machine Pre-QC boards before sending to QC.

Prepare your control room operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your control room operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a control room operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable control room operator resume templates

Build a professional control room operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your control room operator resume.