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The differences between power plant operators and chemical operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a power plant operator has an average salary of $49,204, which is higher than the $40,526 average annual salary of a chemical operator.
The top three skills for a power plant operator include plant equipment, steam boilers and auxiliary equipment. The most important skills for a chemical operator are safety procedures, math, and process equipment.
| Power Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,204 | $40,526 |
| Hourly rate | $23.66 | $19.48 |
| Growth rate | -15% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,719 | 36,522 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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 chemical operator is responsible for maintaining heavy machines and equipment for chemical processing operations. Chemical operators inspect machinery for any malfunctions, perform immediate repairs, and replace defective components as needed to ensure the equipment's safety and efficiency. They carefully handle chemicals, observe the mixing process, and support process development by assisting on strategic procedures to maximize productivity and plan initiatives. A chemical operator must adhere to the safety protocols of the production, especially on storing chemicals, recording information to the database, and operating machines.
Power plant operators and chemical operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Average salary | $49,204 | $40,526 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $67,000 | Between $31,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sanitation District | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a power plant operator and a chemical operator in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between power plant operators' and chemical operators' demographics:
| Power Plant Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 11% |