1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
What is a Power System Operator?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a power system operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $33.68 an hour? That's $70,058 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -6,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Power System Operator Do
There are certain skills that many power system operators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, math skills and detail oriented.
How To Become a Power System Operator
If you're interested in becoming a power system operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 48.0% of power system operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 12.0% of power system operators have master's degrees. Even though most power system operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Average Salary for a Power System Operator
Power System Operators in America make an average salary of $70,058 per year or $34 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $154,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $31,000 per year.
Average Power System Operator Salary
$70,058 Yearly$33.68 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Power System Operator
There are several types of power system operator, including:
Plant Operator
Role:
Plant operators are specialists that oversee and supervise operations in an industrial setting. As a plant operator, you are primarily responsible for controlling equipment and machinery. You may also need to respond to inquiries and issues and also perform basic troubleshooting. In addition, you are to monitor the quality of progress among the departments or units.
As a plant operator, you are to conduct regular inspections and maintenance to ensure a safe workspace for everybody. While doing this, you must implement the plant's safety policies and regulations. Furthermore, you must provide training to all vendors and contractors and ensure participation in safety meetings.
To be a plant operator, you could study environmental control technologies, general studies, or business. You could work with either a high school diploma or a bachelor's degree. Plant operators make an average salary of $38,410 per year.
- Average Salary: $42,697
- Degree: High School Diploma
Utility Operator
Role:
Utility operators are skilled in the installation and repair of utilities. They operate and control different machines and are in charge of maintaining the equipment, spotting malfunctions, and keeping the work area clean and organized. They also conduct weekly site safety audits and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Utility operators earn a median sum of $18 per hour, which amounts to $38,000 per year. Utility operators work with all sorts of utility systems, such as water piping, wastewater plants, electrical cabling, and many more, to create finished products. Then, they test the products and package them in preparation for shipment, and all these things are done within a sterilized environment to prevent contamination. They also respond to emergencies and perform casualty operations when needed.
Utility operators typically have a high school diploma or its equivalent. It will be best to have a higher academic degree, such as a bachelor's degree in business, for candidates hoping to advance in the field. They are also expected to be dexterous and have a significant level of hands-on training. Some employers also prefer candidates with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Average Salary: $38,693
- Degree: High School Diploma
Water Technician
Role:
The importance of water can never be overestimated - it is the life blood of this planet and its inhabitants. However, not all water is clean enough for us to drink and use. This is where the water technician comes in. As a water technician, your purpose will be to oversee and maintain all equipment involved in a water treatment plant, to ensure the quality of water remains up to standards.
Some of the duties and responsibilities that you, as a water technician will be fulfilling include calibrating the machinery and collecting water samples to ensure the quality of water is up to standards and regulations. In addition, you will also adjust the level of different minerals and chemicals in the water and create reports based on your findings. Essential skills needed to succeed in this position include attention to detail, knowledge of federal and state water quality regulations, and communication.
To qualify for this position, you will need to attend either a year of vocational school training or two years of an associate's degree program. However, a high school diploma or a GED may suffice along with proven work experience. The average hourly pay for this position is $17.41, which amounts to more than $36,000 annually.
- Average Salary: $38,723
- Degree: High School Diploma
States With The Most Power System Operator Jobs
Number Of Power System Operator Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 1,439 | $86,115 |
| 2 | California | 1,096 | $94,023 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 972 | $83,884 |
| 4 | Texas | 661 | $49,681 |
| 5 | Virginia | 607 | $57,737 |
| 6 | Maryland | 441 | $76,004 |
| 7 | Florida | 404 | $56,222 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 333 | $71,760 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 295 | $56,107 |
| 10 | Washington | 267 | $46,080 |
| 11 | Ohio | 251 | $57,235 |
| 12 | New York | 244 | $70,946 |
| 13 | Colorado | 243 | $37,369 |
| 14 | Arizona | 237 | $63,691 |
| 15 | Illinois | 222 | $62,014 |
| 16 | Michigan | 216 | $59,276 |
| 17 | Alabama | 211 | $49,317 |
| 18 | Georgia | 179 | $47,012 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 173 | $73,252 |
| 20 | Tennessee | 170 | $48,013 |
| 21 | Indiana | 167 | $58,221 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 149 | $50,016 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 131 | $50,115 |
| 24 | Missouri | 130 | $42,786 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | 129 | $58,410 |
| 26 | Hawaii | 125 | $44,503 |
| 27 | Iowa | 120 | $45,998 |
| 28 | Oregon | 118 | $38,533 |
| 29 | Alaska | 110 | $69,720 |
| 30 | Utah | 105 | $31,025 |
| 31 | Mississippi | 100 | $41,479 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | 87 | $35,081 |
| 33 | Kansas | 84 | $40,431 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 79 | $45,581 |
| 35 | New Mexico | 77 | $42,604 |
| 36 | Kentucky | 73 | $47,915 |
| 37 | Connecticut | 67 | $75,538 |
| 38 | Arkansas | 65 | $36,483 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 61 | $64,813 |
| 40 | Nevada | 56 | $63,413 |
| 41 | Nebraska | 48 | $44,153 |
| 42 | Delaware | 47 | $77,858 |
| 43 | Montana | 36 | $30,972 |
| 44 | North Dakota | 35 | $53,248 |
| 45 | Idaho | 34 | $28,648 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 33 | $67,040 |
| 47 | Wyoming | 30 | $32,748 |
| 48 | Vermont | 29 | $78,103 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 25 | $38,415 |
| 50 | Maine | 21 | $82,276 |
Top Colleges for Power System Operators
2. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,880
Enrollment
6,590
7. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,940
Enrollment
4,169
8. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
9. Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,822
Enrollment
42,529
10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,238
Enrollment
2,120
Choose From 10+ Customizable Power System Operator Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Power System Operator templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Power System Operator resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Power System Operator diversity
Power System Operator Gender Distribution
Male
86%
Female
14%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among power system operators, 13.9% of them are women, while 86.1% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among power system operators is White, which makes up 77.3% of all power system operators.
- The most common foreign language among power system operators is Spanish at 100.0%.
Online Courses For Power System Operator That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure
1. Electrical Power Distribution
This is an application-oriented course explaining the various aspects of power distribution, indoor and outdoor equipment up to 33kV. The course adopts a cross-disciplinary approach to ensure that the learners understand site execution, testing and commissioning. Throughout the course, safety aspects have been emphasized in every area of work. This course blends with conceptual knowledge covering the latest technological trends like SCADA & automation. This course helps learners know the...
2. Electric Power Systems
This course familiarizes you with standards and policies of the electric utility industry, and provides you with basic vocabulary used in the business. It introduces the electric power system, from generation of the electricity all the way to the wall plug. You will learn about the segments of the system, and common components like power cables and transformers. This course is for individuals considering a career in the energy field (who have a high school diploma, at minimum, and basic...
3. Electrical Control & Protection Systems
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...
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How Do Power System Operators Rate Their Jobs?
Top Power System Operator Employers
Most Common Employers For Power System Operator
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMUD | $107,484 | $51.67 | 3 |
| 2 | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $102,031 | $49.05 | 1 |
| 3 | UGI | $100,660 | $48.39 | 1 |
| 4 | Monroe County Community College | $92,927 | $44.68 | 1 |
| 5 | ABB | $92,035 | $44.25 | 1 |
| 6 | Jea | $90,529 | $43.52 | 2 |
| 7 | IBM | $89,221 | $42.89 | 2 |
| 8 | GSI Technology | $88,949 | $42.76 | 1 |
| 9 | Eversource Energy | $88,763 | $42.67 | 2 |
| 10 | Ampere | $76,647 | $36.85 | 1 |