Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $102,040 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 29,320. Wage data is published for 164 locations.
Occupation description
Monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation. Operate plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, and battery banks. Monitor equipment operation and performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure optimal performance. Perform equipment maintenance and repair as necessary.
O*NET code
51-8013.04
Job zone
3
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$102,040
Hourly median
$49.06
Employment
29,320
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 3.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Operation and Control | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Repairing | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Identify or address malfunctions of hydroelectric plant operational equipment, such as generators, transformers, or turbines.
- Start, adjust, or stop generating units, operating valves, gates, or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric power generating plants.
- Perform preventive or corrective containment or cleanup measures in hydroelectric plants to prevent environmental contamination.
- Inspect water-powered electric generators or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric plants to verify proper operation or to determine maintenance or repair needs.
- Communicate status of hydroelectric operating equipment to dispatchers or supervisors.
- Operate high voltage switches or related devices in hydropower stations.
- Operate hydroelectric plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, or battery banks.
- Monitor hydroelectric power plant equipment operation and performance, adjusting to performance specifications, as necessary.
Technology
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Distributed control system DCS
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Web browser software
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in CAMedian $105,210 · Employment 2,610
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in TXMedian $102,510 · Employment 2,100
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in NYMedian $106,990 · Employment 1,960
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in FLMedian $94,290 · Employment 1,640
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in MIMedian $105,820 · Employment 1,220
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in INMedian $107,000 · Employment 1,190
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in ILMedian $104,440 · Employment 1,160
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in New York, NYMedian $131,770 · Employment 1,090
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in PAMedian $95,800 · Employment 1,010
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in MNMedian $94,390 · Employment 970
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in MAMedian $100,140 · Employment 880
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians Salary in ALMedian $107,080 · Employment 790
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.