What they do
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Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
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| Also called: |
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Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Multicraft Operator (MCO), Operations and Maintenance Technician (O & M Technician), Plant Control Operator, Power Plant Operator, Station Operator, Unit Operator
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Wages
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| Vermont - 2023 |
| Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
| 10% |
$ 21.65 |
$45,020 |
| 25% |
$ 27.20 |
$56,580 |
| Median |
$ 39.60 |
$82,370 |
| 75% |
$ 46.49 |
$96,700 |
| 90% |
$ 56.81 |
$118,170 |
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| Average |
$ 39.40 |
$81,940 |
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| More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| United States - 2020 |
| Industry | Percent of total |
| 70% |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 11% |
- Educational services; state, local, and private
| 4% |
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
| 2% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 2% |
| More at BLS |
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Knowledge
| People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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| More at O*NET |
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Skills
| People in this career often have these skills: |
- Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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| More at O*NET |
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Interests
| People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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Work Styles
| People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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- Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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| More at O*NET |
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Tasks
| On the job, you would: |
- Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.
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- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
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- Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
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- 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.
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- Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
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| More at O*NET |
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| Related Occupations
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| Career Video
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Projected Employment
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| Vermont |
| 2020 employment |
74 |
| 2030 employment |
71 |
Annual percent change
(compounded) |
-0.4% |
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations) |
7 |
| More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Long-term on-the-job training
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| Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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- Physical activity is Important
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- Level of activity is High
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| Low |  | High |
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| Compare Occupations at O*NET |
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Job Zone
| Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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| Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
| How much education do most people in this career have? |
| Education level |  | Percent of
U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate | | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
| Associate's degree | | 3% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 23% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 74% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 0% |
| More at O*NET |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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- Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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- Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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- Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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| More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
| In general, what you might do: |
- Controlling Machines and Processes
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
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- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
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- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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| More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
- Operate energy distribution equipment.
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- Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
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- Operate energy production equipment.
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- Operate pumping systems or equipment.
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- Exchange information with colleagues.
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| More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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