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The differences between power plant operators and process 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 $37,996 average annual salary of a process operator.
The top three skills for a power plant operator include plant equipment, steam boilers and auxiliary equipment. The most important skills for a process operator are safety procedures, preventative maintenance, and team-oriented environment.
| Power Plant Operator | Process Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,204 | $37,996 |
| Hourly rate | $23.66 | $18.27 |
| Growth rate | -15% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 40,719 | 83,478 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| 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 process operator's role is to supervise all production operations in a manufacturing plant or similar setting. To ensure the efficiency and safety of the workforce and the workload, a process operator must regularly conduct inspections on the manufacturing processes and provide an assessment of the employees' progress. There are also duties that involve producing reports and presentations, keeping and updating data, performing audits, and managing work schedules. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain a healthy and safe environment for everyone, all while adhering and implementing the policies and regulations of the company.
Power plant operators and process operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Operator | Process Operator | |
| Average salary | $49,204 | $37,996 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $67,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Orange County Sanitation District | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a power plant operator and a process operator in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Operator | Process Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between power plant operators' and process operators' demographics:
| Power Plant Operator | Process Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |