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The differences between power plant operators and electrical maintenance engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an electrical maintenance engineer has an average salary of $77,585, 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 an electrical maintenance engineer are PLC, electrical equipment, and control systems.
| Power Plant Operator | Electrical Maintenance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,204 | $77,585 |
| Hourly rate | $23.66 | $37.30 |
| Growth rate | -15% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 40,719 | 90,479 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| 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.
As a part of the maintenance team, the electrical maintenance engineer is responsible for maintaining electrical fixtures used by establishments. They install electrical equipment such as switches and elevators, repair if the damage is present, and maintain their proper function. They are hired independently or contractually in industrial establishments to do their job. They must respond quickly if a malfunction is observed, ensuring safety along the way. They must have good communication skills to work with the team.
Power plant operators and electrical maintenance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Operator | Electrical Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $49,204 | $77,585 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $67,000 | Between $56,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | The Woodlands, TX |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sanitation District | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a power plant operator and an electrical maintenance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Operator | Electrical Maintenance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between power plant operators' and electrical maintenance engineers' demographics:
| Power Plant Operator | Electrical Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |