What they do
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Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
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| Also called: |
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Auxiliary Operator, Central Heating Plant Operator, Fuel Handler, Fuel Quality Technician (Fuel Quality Tech), Heating Plant Operator, Operations Technician (Operations Tech), Plant Operator, Plant Technician, Steam Plant Operator
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Wages
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| Power Plant Operators* |
| 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 |
| * You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Biomass Plant Technicians" for which wage information is not available. |
| 1 What are Percentile Wages? |
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| More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| Power Plant Operators* |
| 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% |
| * You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Biomass Plant Technicians" for which industries of employment information is not available. |
| 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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- Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
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- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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- Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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- Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
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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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- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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- Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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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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- Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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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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- Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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| What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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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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- Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress 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: |
- Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
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- Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
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- Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
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- Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
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- Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
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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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| Power Plant Operators* |
| Vermont |
| 2020 employment |
74 |
| 2030 employment |
71 |
Annual percent change
(compounded) |
-0.4% |
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations) |
7 |
| * You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Biomass Plant Technicians" for which projected employment information is not available. |
| More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
| Power Plant Operators* |
- 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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| * You're seeing information for "Power Plant Operators" because it includes "Biomass Plant Technicians" for which education and experience information is not available. |
| 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 Moderate
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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 | | 10% |
| Associate's degree | | 6% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 31% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 47% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 7% |
| More at O*NET |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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- Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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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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- Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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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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| 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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- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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- Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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| More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
- Operate biomass or biofuel production equipment.
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- Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
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- Test materials, solutions, or samples.
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- Record operational or production data.
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- Inspect sustainable energy production facilities or equipment.
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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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