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Power plant operator vs refinery technician

The differences between power plant operators and refinery technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a refinery technician has an average salary of $51,694, 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 a refinery technician are minor maintenance, safety regulations, and LOTO.

Power plant operator vs refinery technician overview

Power Plant OperatorRefinery Technician
Yearly salary$49,204$51,694
Hourly rate$23.66$24.85
Growth rate-15%-15%
Number of jobs40,7197,715
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

Power plant operator vs refinery technician salary

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

Power Plant OperatorRefinery Technician
Average salary$49,204$51,694
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $67,000Between $39,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MN-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyOrange County Sanitation District-
Best paying industryUtilities-

Differences between power plant operator and refinery technician education

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

Power Plant OperatorRefinery Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringIndustrial Technology
Most common college--

Power plant operator vs refinery technician demographics

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

Power Plant OperatorRefinery Technician
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 94.9% Female, 5.1%Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%
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, 6.1% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 1.5% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between power plant operator and refinery technician 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

Refinery technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage, develop, and execute department clearances (LO/TO).
  • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
  • Experience with Maximo and other computer systems.
  • Monitor and adjust units from the DCS and SCADA.
  • Perform distillation, absorption, extraction, adsorption, thermal and reforming.
  • Operate Plc computers and high pressure boilers, as well as forklift panel.
  • Show more

Power plant operator vs refinery technician skills

Common power plant operator skills
  • Plant Equipment, 9%
  • Steam Boilers, 8%
  • Auxiliary Equipment, 7%
  • Plant Operations, 5%
  • Cooling Towers, 5%
  • Condensers, 5%
Common refinery technician skills
  • Minor Maintenance, 46%
  • Safety Regulations, 19%
  • LOTO, 8%
  • Cooling Towers, 6%
  • Plant Equipment, 6%
  • Hazardous Chemicals, 4%

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