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The differences between power plant operators and boiler operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a boiler operator has an average salary of $49,782, which is higher than the $49,204 average annual salary of a power plant operator.
The top three skills for a power plant operator include plant equipment, steam boilers and auxiliary equipment. The most important skills for a boiler operator are preventive maintenance, air compressors, and boiler room.
| Power Plant Operator | Boiler Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,204 | $49,782 |
| Hourly rate | $23.66 | $23.93 |
| Growth rate | -15% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,719 | 32,715 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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. They may also perform regular maintenance checks, executing corrective measures promptly. Furthermore, as a power plant operator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with fellow operators and power plant staff for an efficient and safe workflow.
A boiler operator specializes in the maintenance and repair of boiler machines and similar facilities in industrial establishments such as warehouses, power plants, and factories. As a boiler operator, it is their responsibility to monitor and operate systems and equipment, perform adjustments, observe factors such as temperature and pressure, write daily records, and replace equipment parts as needed. They may also maintain the cleanliness of areas, keeping supplies organized at all times. Furthermore, a boiler operator must conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
Power plant operators and boiler operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Operator | Boiler Operator | |
| Average salary | $49,204 | $49,782 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $67,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Ithaca, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sanitation District | Southeastern Med |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a power plant operator and a boiler operator in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Operator | Boiler Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between power plant operators' and boiler operators' demographics:
| Power Plant Operator | Boiler Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 1.5% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 8.0% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |