How To Become a Power Plant Operator

Behind every phone charge, laptop startup, TV channel change and microwave meal is the power of electricity. True to their name, power plants are facilities where electric power is generated from various energy sources, including coal, solar, wind, natural gas, hydroelectric and nuclear energy.

Power plant operators are the ones who keep everything running. They manage these facilities to ensure electric power grids operate correctly.

They’re in charge of the essential equipment that ensures electricity is delivered to homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. They help keep public transportation, like light rail, working. They ensure power flows to manufacturers and factories. If there’s a problem or a potential issue looming, they work on eliminating it.

We all rely on electricity to perform so many routine tasks in our daily lives. That energy depends on the essential work of power plant operators.

If you’ve ever wondered how these professionals enter the industry, or how hard it is to become a power plant operator, learn the steps to get there and what the job entails below.

Key Points

• Power plant operators are crucial in generating and delivering electricity from various energy sources to homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, ensuring the smooth operation of public transportation and manufacturing.
• A typical day for a power plant operator involves managing power-generating equipment, monitoring voltage, regulating power flow and using control boards to synchronize power among generators, with some specializing in specific energy types or industries.
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that 72% of power plant operator employers in 2023 were utility companies, with salaries varying based on title, location and industry.
• To become a power plant operator, one typically needs educational training in industrial maintenance, which can include understanding mechanical, electrical and fluid power concepts, along with organization, problem-solving and the ability to thrive under pressure. Some positions, like those in nuclear power, may require a license.
• Career paths for power plant operators can lead to senior positions, supervisory roles or consultancy, with the Industrial Maintenance Technician (IMT) training program at UTI preparing students to pursue entry-level positions in less than a year, covering electricity and heating and cooling systems.¹

What Is a Power Plant Operator?

Exactly what does a power plant operator do? Power plant operators work in power plants, where electricity is generated and then delivered to substations that distribute it to other places, like homes and businesses.

A typical day on the job as a power plant operator might include duties like:

• Managing and maintaining power-generating equipment.
• Looking for operating problems and fixing them.
• Monitoring voltage and regulating the flow of power to ensure fluctuating electricity demand is met and controlled.
• Using control boards to synchronize power among generators.

Power plant operators may specialize in certain types of energy or industries, such as nuclear power reactor operation. Sometimes, power plant operators manage or work with specialists, such as power dispatchers and distributors who control the flow of electricity.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 72% of power plant operator employers in 2023 were utility companies. Other power plant operator employers include government organizations and other businesses. Power plant operator salary can vary widely depending on title, geographic location, industry and other factors.

What Do Power Plant Operators Do?

Power plant operators are responsible for controlling, operating and maintaining machinery that generates electric power. They manage power-generating equipment, which may use various fuel types such as coal, nuclear power or natural gas.

Their duties include reading charts, meters and gauges to monitor voltage and electricity flows, adjusting controls to regulate power flow, and starting or stopping generators and turbines as needed.

Steps To Become a Power Plant Operator

Power plant operation is a technology-heavy field. Professionals in the industry must follow important procedures and techniques to maintain a safe environment. Because of job aspects like these, there may be different power plant operator requirements.

The BLS reports power plant operation employers typically prefer workers who have educational training. Industrial maintenance training, like the Industrial Maintenance Technician program offered at UTI, can provide students with skills that can be built upon for a career as a power plant operator.¹ Depending on the equipment, such as nuclear power reactors, those interested in a power plant operator career may need to get a license.

In addition to training and hands-on experience, power plant operator employers may look for skills such as:

• Understanding of mechanical, electrical and fluid power concepts.
• Organization, concentration and time-management skills.
• Mathematical and spatial abilities.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive under pressure.

Power plant operators get to work on some of the world’s most important machinery and are responsible for delivering energy that keeps people safe. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, a career in the industry might be one you enjoy.

Power Plant Operator Career Potential

While many power plant operators spend most of their time working with complex machinery, there are also different career paths in power plant operation management. Some power plant operators grow their careers into senior positions, where they supervise others, train new employees or work as consultants for a variety of organizations.⁶

How hard is it to be a power plant operator? That depends on the unique job duties of the position and whether they match your interests and skill set. With help from UTI’s Career Services team, our students and graduates can find job opportunities in the industries and locations they are interested in.

Learn About Power Plant Operator Training

If you’re interested in an exciting and important career as a power plant operator, our program can prepare you to pursue entry-level roles in the field.¹ The Industrial Maintenance Technician training program at UTI can help you build a foundation of knowledge that can be expanded with hard work and experience, and potentially lead you to pursue a role as a power plant operator. This program takes less than a year to complete and covers topics like electricity and heating and cooling systems.

If you’d like to learn more, reach out today. We’ll contact you with information on start dates, housing assistance, financial aid and more.¹⁰

Campuses That Offer Industrial Maintenance Training

Industrial maintenance training is offered at several UTI campus locations:

• Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• Lisle, IL
• Canton, MI
• Houston, TX