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Power plant operator vs electric operator

The differences between power plant operators and electric 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 $41,135 average annual salary of an electric operator.

The top three skills for a power plant operator include plant equipment, steam boilers and auxiliary equipment. The most important skills for an electric operator are CAD, switch gear, and prototype.

Power plant operator vs electric operator overview

Power Plant OperatorElectric Operator
Yearly salary$49,204$41,135
Hourly rate$23.66$19.78
Growth rate-15%-15%
Number of jobs40,71931,044
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

Power plant operator vs electric operator salary

Power plant operators and electric operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Power Plant OperatorElectric Operator
Average salary$49,204$41,135
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $67,000Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MN-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyOrange County Sanitation District-
Best paying industryUtilities-

Differences between power plant operator and electric operator education

There are a few differences between a power plant operator and an electric operator in terms of educational background:

Power Plant OperatorElectric Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common college--

Power plant operator vs electric operator demographics

Here are the differences between power plant operators' and electric operators' demographics:

Power Plant OperatorElectric Operator
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 94.9% Female, 5.1%Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 1.5% White, 77.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between power plant operator and electric operator duties and responsibilities

Power plant operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
  • Process operator in the powerhouse.
  • Develop and assist regional groups with desk operating procedures for NERC compliance standards.
  • Control and maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors and condensers.
  • Perform various aspects of preventive maintenance and troubleshooting on HVAC systems; 300 to 1500 tons.
  • Repair and perform complete rebuilds on various valves, actuators, pumps, compressors, large fans, gearboxes etc.
  • Show more

Electric operator example responsibilities.

  • Ensure continuous control of chemistry vital to operational reactor safety and provide oversight for complex radiological control maintenance.
  • Specialize in building distillation units used for distilling hazardous chemicals.

Power plant operator vs electric operator skills

Common power plant operator skills
  • Plant Equipment, 9%
  • Steam Boilers, 8%
  • Auxiliary Equipment, 7%
  • Plant Operations, 5%
  • Cooling Towers, 5%
  • Condensers, 5%
Common electric operator skills
  • CAD, 30%
  • Switch Gear, 22%
  • Prototype, 11%
  • Ac, 10%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • Electrical Distribution Systems, 5%

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