How to hire a control room operator

How to hire a control room operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step control room operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a control room operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new control room operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a control room operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The control room operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A control room operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, control room operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of control room operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Control Room Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Control Room Operator	Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.	$14-29
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Power Plant Operator	A power plant operator is primarily in charge of controlling and maintaining machinery that generates and distributes electricity. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring charts and sensors, gathering and analyzing data, detecting errors and inconsistencies, maintaining daily logs and records of all progress, and performing adjustments as needed... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Control Room Operations
   • Plant Operations
   • Safety Procedures
   • Plant Equipment
   • Ladders
   • Emergency Situations
   • Start-Up
   • Corrective Action
   • Control Systems
   • LOTO
   • CCTV
   • DCS
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Plant Systems

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Serve a lead producer; direct crew to ensure show run smoothly.
   • Operate support utilities, including cascade HVAC, power distribution, and emergency generators.

   More control room operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your control room operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A control room operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, control room operators' average salary in florida is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level control room operators 52% less than senior-level control room operators.
   • Certifications. A control room operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a control room operator's salary.

   Average control room operator salary

   $43,733yearly

   $21.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level control room operator salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average control room operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$51,076	$25
   2	California	$50,044	$24
   3	Washington	$48,582	$23
   4	Massachusetts	$47,291	$23
   5	Ohio	$47,086	$23
   6	Wisconsin	$46,868	$23
   7	New York	$46,778	$22
   8	Texas	$46,105	$22
   9	Utah	$45,487	$22
   10	Maryland	$44,955	$22
   11	Illinois	$43,315	$21
   12	Kentucky	$41,900	$20
   13	Arizona	$41,753	$20
   14	Virginia	$41,097	$20
   15	Missouri	$39,880	$19
   16	North Carolina	$34,982	$17
   17	Florida	$32,564	$16

   Average control room operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	California Resources	$66,181	$31.82
   2	Apache	$60,797	$29.23
   3	Bloomberg	$58,684	$28.21	3
   4	Gillette	$57,475	$27.63
   5	Hilton Grand Vacations	$55,097	$26.49	2
   6	Coterra Energy	$54,502	$26.20	5
   7	AECOM	$54,408	$26.16	42
   8	BP America Inc	$54,246	$26.08	5
   9	Reckitt Benckiser	$54,242	$26.08	2
   10	City of Roanoke, Virginia - Government	$54,020	$25.97
   11	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$52,841	$25.40	1
   12	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$52,747	$25.36	18
   13	Fortune Brands Home & Security	$52,581	$25.28	3
   14	Hyatt Hotels	$51,691	$24.85	91
   15	Univision Communications	$50,767	$24.41	6
   16	Xcel Energy	$50,224	$24.15	9
   17	Black & Veatch	$49,984	$24.03	64
   18	Sinclair Broadcast Group	$49,916	$24.00	20
   19	Baystate Health	$49,740	$23.91	3
   20	Inter-Con Security Systems	$49,713	$23.90	4

4. Writing a control room operator job description

   A control room operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a control room operator job description:

   Control room operator job description example

   Grand Canyon University's Arena Operations team is currently seeking part time Arena Control Room Operators. The Arena Control Room Operator is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the proper functioning of the control room equipment and systems, which includes, but is not limited to BMS, lighting, HVAC and fire systems.This is part time role (not to exceed 29 hours per week) which requires the flexibility to work nights, weekends and holidays in order to support GCU's Arena event-driven schedule.
   Responsibilities:
   Supports shipping and receiving activities.Assists supervisor with coordination of loading dock entry and parking.Logs all arena building emergencies and notifies Arena Management and/or Public Safety Department.Answers the main Arena Control Room phone line and opens the loading dock gate.Monitors all BMS systems (Building Management Systems) including but not limited to: lighting, HVAC and fire alarm under the direction of Director of Operations.Check radios in and out to staff daily, as needed.May assist with interpreting signals from CCTV communications and alarm activations and initiating appropriate action.Will be required to operate a forklift at the arena loading dock, as needed.
   
   Education and/or Experience:
   High school diploma, or equivalent is required.Previous experience for control room operations which involved emergency dispatch and coordination in facility with high volume events/activities, is preferred.Forklift certification is required.
   
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
   Knowledge of OSHA regulations regarding safety and security of public facility.Cooperative, collaborative and a team player.Good communications and interpersonal skills; ability to speak Spanish or other non-English language, is preferred.Customer service oriented and demonstrates positive customer service in all interactions.Familiar with MS Office Suite, specifically MS Word and MS Outlook.Must have the flexibility to work nights, weekends and holidays in order to support the Arena's event-driven schedule.Understands and knows all national fire code protocols as it pertains to a building of public assembly.
   
   Physical Demands/Environment:
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   Physical exertion may be required occasionally to climb stairs.Occasional lifting and carrying; may lift up to 50 pounds or more on rare occasions.Frequently uses hearing and participates in active listening over phones and/or communication devices.Work requires visual acuity to monitor control room monitors to view movement/activity throughout facility.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right control room operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with control room operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit control room operators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your control room operator job on Zippia to find and recruit control room operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit control room operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new control room operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect control room operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new control room operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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