Career Paths From Power Plant Operators

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Gas Plant OperatorsLateral Move96.1% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Gas Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Gas Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$87,820
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsCareer Change96.8% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 24% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$77,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsLateral Move95.6% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 41% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$60,020
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change95.7% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 39% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pile Driver OperatorsCareer Change95.2% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Pile Driver Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Pile Driver Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$73,300
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move95.1% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 53% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$48,250
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move95.6% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 59% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$41,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move96.8% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 54% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsCareer Change95.4% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$59,850
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Logging Equipment OperatorsCareer Change96.9% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Logging Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Logging Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 51% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$49,740
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Agricultural Equipment OperatorsCareer Change95.1% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Agricultural Equipment Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Agricultural Equipment Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 59% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$41,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move94.7% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 58% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$43,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodLateral Move94.7% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 58% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$42,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersLateral Move94.9% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 55% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$46,350
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and HostlersCareer Change96% skill match
Power Plant Operators and Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% lower.
Current median salary
$102,040
Target median salary
$60,600
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.