Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-8013 Power Plant Operators

Occupational Description:
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. Excludes “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators" (51-8011).

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2020

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Southeast Minnesota	120	29	$43.80/hr	$30.10/hr	$37.78/hr	$44.41/hr	$50.54/hr	$59.18/hr

Leading Industries for Power Plant Operators

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	760	$45.64/hr
Professional and Business Services	N/A	$34.68/hr
Public Administration	150	$34.38/hr

Other Regional Data for Power Plant Operators

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2016-2026
Northeast Minnesota	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	N/A	N/A	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Balance of State	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	N/A	N/A	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	20	$37.30/hr	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	40	$41.16/hr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	40	$25.13/hr	N/A
Central Minnesota	70	$46.70/hr	6.0%
Southeast Minnesota	120	$44.41/hr	9.6%
Southwest Minnesota	130	$42.08/hr	6.5%
Southeast Balance of State	150	$44.75/hr	N/A
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	330	$43.57/hr	-1.9%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	560	$45.49/hr	N/A
Minnesota	930	$43.64/hr	1.1%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change -
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gagers	N/A	$30.42/hr	N/A
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators	1,520	$30.46/hr	7.2%
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	2,130	$20.78/hr	1.9%
Chemical Plant and System Operators	1,460	$25.28/hr	0.7%
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers	N/A	N/A	N/A
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,060	$21.13/hr	8.8%
Gas Plant Operators	170	$34.39/hr	0.4%
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	340	$18.53/hr	-5.3%

Task for Power Plant Operators

Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
Clean, lubricate, or maintain equipment, such as generators, turbines, pumps, or compressors, to prevent failure or deterioration.
Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.
Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.
Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.
Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland or pipe joints.
Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.
Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports.
Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.