Hydro plant operator vs steam plant operator

The differences between hydro plant operators and steam plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a hydro plant operator has an average salary of $46,079, which is higher than the $45,404 average annual salary of a steam plant operator.

The top three skills for a hydro plant operator include test equipment, and . The most important skills for a steam plant operator are general maintenance, plant equipment, and water pumps.

Hydro plant operator vs steam plant operator overview

	Hydro Plant Operator	Steam Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$46,079	$45,404
Hourly rate	$22.15	$21.83
Growth rate	-15%	-15%
Number of jobs	34,497	34,695
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	-	-

Hydro plant operator vs steam plant operator salary

Hydro plant operators and steam plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hydro Plant Operator	Steam Plant Operator
Average salary	$46,079	$45,404
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $63,000	Between $32,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between hydro plant operator and steam plant operator education

There are a few differences between a hydro plant operator and a steam plant operator in terms of educational background:

	Hydro Plant Operator	Steam Plant Operator
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Business	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	-	-

Hydro plant operator vs steam plant operator demographics

Here are the differences between hydro plant operators' and steam plant operators' demographics:

	Hydro Plant Operator	Steam Plant Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 1.3% White, 79.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%	Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 1.5% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between hydro plant operator and steam plant operator duties and responsibilities

Hydro plant operator example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Prepare asphalt mixtures per customer requirements, load and unload tankers and monitor tanks and assist with paperwork
Perform maintenance on MSA self-contain breathing apparatus.

Steam plant operator example responsibilities.

Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Prepare asphalt mixtures per customer requirements, load and unload tankers and monitor tanks and assist with paperwork
Train in adult CPR and general first aid.
Insure that lock-out and tag-out procedures are perform safely and in compliance with APS guidelines.

Hydro plant operator vs steam plant operator skills

Common hydro plant operator skills

Test Equipment, 100%

Common steam plant operator skills

General Maintenance, 15%
Plant Equipment, 13%
Water Pumps, 12%
Mechanical Equipment, 11%
Loaders, 8%
HVAC, 7%

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Hydro Plant Operator
Hydro Plant Operator vs Steam Plant Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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