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How to hire an electric system operator

Electric system operator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring electric system operators in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an electric system operator is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new electric system operator to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an electric system operator, step by step

To hire an electric system operator, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a electric system operator:

Here's a step-by-step electric system operator hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your electric system operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an electric system operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect electric system operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of electric system operators and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Electric System OperatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Electric System OperatorWater and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.$11-78
    Water Treatment TechnicianWater treatment technicians work every day in observing agricultural plant functions, which includes obtaining the daily requirements and making suitable adjustments to satisfy those demands. They carefully implement process sampling to exactly gauge and keep track of levels... Show more$13-32
    Water TechnicianTypically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency... Show more$13-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • SCADA
    • NERC
    • Substation Equipment
    • Emergency Procedures
    • Electric Distribution System
    • PJM
    • Management System
    Responsibilities:
    • Supervise and lead teams to be proficient in proprietary and commercial production and supply management software.
    • Complete annual NERC compliance training.
    • Help electrical maintenance department troubleshoot motors and other electrical devices.
    • Design and plan PowerPoint presentations for supervisors.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, electric system operators' average salary in idaho is 69% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level electric system operators 85% less than senior-level electric system operators.
    • Certifications. An electric system 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 an electric system operator's salary.

    Average electric system operator salary

    $63,571yearly

    $30.56 hourly rate

    Entry-level electric system operator salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing an electric system operator job description

    An electric system 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 an electric system operator job description:

    Electric system operator job description example

    Job DescriptionSalary:

    The Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Newark, Ohio, serves over 67,500 electric, natural gas and propane members throughout east-central Ohio. As a non-profit cooperative, we are member-owned and controlled by the members we serve. We are committed to serving our members safe, high quality energy services at a reasonable price. We believe in our employees and strive to provide fair, honest and equal treatment with a commitment to training, education, and opportunity for advancement in a safe and secure environment.


    At The Energy Cooperative, we take pride in offering competitive benefits and want our employees to have what they need to be their best.


    Here’s a glimpse of the programs we offer our employees:


    • Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
    • Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
    • Supplemental Life Insurance Programs for Employee, Spouse and Children
    • Disability Insurance
    • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
    • Paid Time-Off (PTO)
    • Paid Holidays
    • Traditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
    • Retirement Pension Plan
    • Education Assistance
    • Employee Assistance Program


    We are currently looking to fill the position of Electric System Coordinator based at our Utica, OH Service Center. This is a technical position that works under the direction of the Operations Manager to monitor and maintain the electric SCADA system. Works closely with Engineering department on a variety of related projects. This position will create and coordinate switching/tagging orders, dispatch outages as needed and operate and maintain the SCADA system.


    Nature and Scope of Position (Essential Duties and Responsibilities):


    • Support and incorporate the Cooperative’s Mission, Vision and Values in personal and professional behavior and decisions.
    • Comply with Cooperative policies, procedures, goals and objectives and meets attendance and punctuality guidelines.
    • Understand, observe and enforce cooperative safety and security procedures and report potentially unsafe conditions to department supervisor and/or safety department personnel.
    • Monitor and operate the Cooperative’s Electric SCADA and OMS system. Demonstrates an ability to make sound decisions regarding the system based on current and potential conditions.
    • Has a thorough understanding of radial transmission and distribution systems including electrical substation equipment.
    • Develop and write switching orders for planned/unplanned circuit transfers. Utilize mapping data, field verification and load data in developing switching orders.
    • Work closely with other departments to ensure all are involved and aware of ongoing system operations.
    • Perform daily dispatching and logging of crews as they perform their daily work.
    • Coordinate with other utilities and members for planned transfers and outages.
    • Perform and develop load flow studies and other necessary analysis required to make good engineering decisions regarding switching and load transfers
    • Ensure the SCADA system is up to date including functions such as adding, changing and removing SCADA controlled devices, points and connections to the SCADA system.
    • Perform load management deferrals and restores, as required.
    • Perform other related duties as may be assigned.


    Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactory. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


    • Experience and Education: 2-year Electrical Engineering Technology or Electronics Engineering Technology Degree or equivalent. Two to four years of previous SCADA and/or switching and tagging experience preferred. Prefer some engineering experience regarding load flow and analysis.
    • Certificates, Licenses and Training: Must possess a valid driver’s license and have the ability to attend meetings and/or training seminars when requested, including classes and/or training that involves overnight stay. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
    • Language and Interpersonal Skills: Must possess excellent communications skills and treat others in a courteous and professional manner. Ability to present written and oral reports to management when requested. Is a good listener and actively engages in conversations in order to clearly understand others’ message and intent. Is easy to approach and talk to and spends the extra effort to put others at ease.
    • Other Skills and Abilities: Performs well under stress, when confronted with emergency, critical, or unusual situations. Displays high standards of ethical conduct and is widely trusted and viewed as a direct and truthful person. Maintains sensitive information with a high level of confidentiality. Effectively solves problems and has a realistic vision of the end result. Can handle multiple tasks with ease and remains organized in work area and work flow process. Requires minimal supervision.


    Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


    • Work is performed primarily in an office environment where climate and noise levels are controlled. No known hazards exist. Field verification of equipment will require field site visits.
    • The physical demands of this position include frequent sitting, standing, walking, lifting and/or carrying, talking, hearing, visual ability and mental and emotional demands.
    • This position is subject to pre-employment substance abuse testing, as well as, random testing in accordance with the company’s drug and alcohol policies.
    • Must be available for unscheduled overtime and be able to work during non-working hours which may include weekends and holidays.
    • This position will work a rotating shift.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right electric system operator for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your electric system operator job on Zippia to find and recruit electric system operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting electric system operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 electric system operator

    Once you've found the electric system operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  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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How much does it cost to hire an electric system operator?

Recruiting electric system operators involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for electric system operators is $63,571 in the US. However, the cost of electric system operator hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an electric system operator for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $78 an hour.

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