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The differences between power plant technicians and plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a power plant technician and a plant technician. Additionally, a power plant technician has an average salary of $46,681, which is higher than the $46,164 average annual salary of a plant technician.
The top three skills for a power plant technician include plant equipment, preventive maintenance and gearboxes. The most important skills for a plant technician are preventive maintenance, ladders, and data collection.
| Power Plant Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,681 | $46,164 |
| Hourly rate | $22.44 | $22.19 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 36,418 | 146,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Power plant technicians, paid at an average of $790K per year, must have skills in concentration, dexterity, mechanics, and problem-solving. They will need a high school diploma or GED at the very least, though some employers do prefer a college or vocational school degree, as well as strong math and science backgrounds. Those who choose this career will be called on to controlling and monitoring -power plant equipment, like boilers, turbines, and generators.
A plant technician is in charge of overseeing plant operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include installing and upgrading machines and equipment, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, implementing solutions to vulnerable or problem areas, and developing strategies to optimize plant operations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks, conducting corrective measures and adjustments as needed. Furthermore, a plant technician must provide technical support to employees, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Power plant technicians and plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Power Plant Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,681 | $46,164 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $71,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a power plant technician and a plant technician in terms of educational background:
| Power Plant Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Business |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between power plant technicians' and plant technicians' demographics:
| Power Plant Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |