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Boston Career Explorer

Production

Power Plant Operators

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

Also called: Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Multicraft Operator (MCO), Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech), Plant Control Operator

Median pay in Greater Boston
$103,900
$49.95/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
640
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−4.3%
100 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Long-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$68,550$81,440$103,900$122,860$130,850

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
  • Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
  • Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
  • Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
  • Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
  • Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure31 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 37
  • Language-model AIOE 34
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 22

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and some AI use is already seen. Tools may help with watching gauges and meters and spotting equipment problems. Federal projections say upgraded plant technology will make operators more productive, so fewer may be needed. Hands-on control of equipment and responding to problems still need trained people.

Likely to change

  • Watching meters, charts, and gauges
  • Spotting equipment problems from readings

Still relies on people

  • Starting and stopping power equipment safely
  • Deciding how to handle operating problems

What federal projections say

“Productivity change - share decreases as upgraded technologies incorporated into power plants will make power plant operators more productive.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Knowing how electric power systems work and following safety rules carry over. This job has a median pay of $111,490 and projected growth of 13.3%.

    Pay difference
    +$7,590 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Careful attention to specifications and safety carries over. This apprenticeship-based job has a median pay of $120,840 and projected growth of 6.1%.

    Pay difference
    +$16,940 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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