Careers / Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$102,040
United States, 2025
Employment
29,320
United States, 2025
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- Monitor hydroelectric power plant equipment operation and performance, adjusting to performance specifications, as necessary.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$61,790
25th percentile
$79,690
75th percentile
$119,080
90th percentile
$131,940
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Equipment Maintenance3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Repairing3.5
- Troubleshooting3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 18 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
18
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Repairing | 3.5 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.4 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Hydroelectric Plant TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee, WA | $145,510 | 70 | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | $138,930 | 130 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $137,030 | — | 2025 |
| Boise City, ID | $134,050 | 70 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $133,380 | 210 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $133,140 | 130 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $132,600 | 300 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | $132,030 | 120 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $131,770 | 1,090 | 2025 |
| WA | $131,620 | 430 | 2025 |
| NV | $131,400 | 250 | 2025 |
| NJ | $131,370 | 300 | 2025 |
| Reno, NV | $129,020 | 60 | 2025 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $126,190 | 100 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $124,950 | 90 | 2025 |
| ID | $124,440 | 310 | 2025 |
| New Haven, CT | $123,840 | 50 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $123,540 | 640 | 2025 |
| ND | $122,160 | 150 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $122,020 | 170 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Hydroelectric Plant Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.