Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between power plant operators and plant 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 $42,697 average annual salary of a 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 plant operator are plant equipment, plant operations, and preventative maintenance.
| Power Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,204 | $42,697 |
| Hourly rate | $23.66 | $20.53 |
| Growth rate | -15% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 40,719 | 43,388 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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 plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
Power plant operators and plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $49,204 | $42,697 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $67,000 | Between $32,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Idaho |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sanitation District | NW Natural |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Finance |
There are a few differences between a power plant operator and a plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Here are the differences between power plant operators' and plant operators' demographics:
| Power Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% |
| 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |