Power Plant Operators
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-8013.00
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.026
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.28
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 29 hidden tasks30 rated tasks · 11 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (36.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 30.2) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports.51-8013.00 | 0.0300100.0 | 0.0300100.0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports.O*NET Task ID 12324 | 1.0 |
Receive outage calls and request necessary personnel during power outages or emergencies.O*NET Task ID 12330 | 1.0 |
Prepare and submit compliance, operational, and safety forms or reports.O*NET Task ID 23616 | 1.0 |
Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.O*NET Task ID 12314 | 0.5 |
Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.O*NET Task ID 12317 | 0.5 |
Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.O*NET Task ID 12318 | 0.5 |
Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.O*NET Task ID 12320 | 0.5 |
Communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate line voltages and transmission loads and frequencies.O*NET Task ID 12323 | 0.5 |
Analyze the layout, instrumentation, or function of electrical generation or transmission facilities.O*NET Task ID 23612 | 0.5 |
Diagnose or troubleshoot problems with gas collection systems.O*NET Task ID 23613 | 0.5 |
Verify that well field monitoring data conforms to applicable regulations.O*NET Task ID 23619 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems. | Core |
| Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment. | Core |
| Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers. | Core |
| Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals. | Core |
| Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary. | Core |
| Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status. | Core |
| Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power. | Core |
| Clean, lubricate, or maintain equipment, such as generators, turbines, pumps, or compressors, to prevent failure or deterioration. | Core |
| Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports. | Core |
| Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units. | Core |
| Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland or pipe joints. | Core |
| Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels. | Core |
| Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes. | Core |
| Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations. | Supplemental |
| Communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate line voltages and transmission loads and frequencies. | Supplemental |
| Collect oil, water, or electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis. | Supplemental |
| Place standby emergency electrical generators on line in emergencies and monitor the temperature, output, and lubrication of the system. | Supplemental |
| Receive outage calls and request necessary personnel during power outages or emergencies. | Supplemental |
| Examine and test electrical power distribution machinery and equipment, using testing devices. | Supplemental |
| Operate, control, or monitor equipment, such as acid or gas carbon dioxide removal units, carbon dioxide compressors, or pipelines, to capture, store, or transport carbon dioxide exhaust. | Supplemental |
| Operate, control, or monitor gasifiers or related equipment, such as coolers, water quenches, water gas shifts reactors, or sulfur recovery units, to produce syngas or electricity from coal. | Supplemental |
| Operate, control, or monitor integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) or related equipment, such as air separation units, to generate electricity from coal. | Supplemental |
| Analyze the layout, instrumentation, or function of electrical generation or transmission facilities. | — |
| Diagnose or troubleshoot problems with gas collection systems. | — |
| Monitor well fields periodically to ensure proper functioning and performance. | — |
| Operate landfill gas, methane, or natural gas fueled electrical generation systems. | — |
| Prepare and submit compliance, operational, and safety forms or reports. | — |
| Repair or replace gas piping. | — |
| Trace electrical circuitry to ensure compliance of electrical systems with applicable codes or laws. | — |
| Verify that well field monitoring data conforms to applicable regulations. | — |
0.90/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems. | E2 structured facilities |
| Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals. | E2 structured facilities |
| Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary. | E2 structured facilities |
| Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean, lubricate, or maintain equipment, such as generators, turbines, pumps, or compressors, to prevent failure or deterioration. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland or pipe joints. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect oil, water, or electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place standby emergency electrical generators on line in emergencies and monitor the temperature, output, and lubrication of the system. | E2 structured facilities |
| Examine and test electrical power distribution machinery and equipment, using testing devices. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate, control, or monitor equipment, such as acid or gas carbon dioxide removal units, carbon dioxide compressors, or pipelines, to capture, store, or transport carbon dioxide exhaust. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate, control, or monitor gasifiers or related equipment, such as coolers, water quenches, water gas shifts reactors, or sulfur recovery units, to produce syngas or electricity from coal. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate, control, or monitor integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) or related equipment, such as air separation units, to generate electricity from coal. | E0 none |
| Diagnose or troubleshoot problems with gas collection systems. | E2 structured facilities |
| Monitor well fields periodically to ensure proper functioning and performance. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate landfill gas, methane, or natural gas fueled electrical generation systems. | E2 structured facilities |
| Repair or replace gas piping. | E0 none |
| Trace electrical circuitry to ensure compliance of electrical systems with applicable codes or laws. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 51-8013 group (Power plant operators), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 30K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 28K
- Change (2025–35)
- -5.1%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $102,040
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86101 | 화력발전 장치 운전원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 86102 | 수력발전 장치 운전원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 86104 | 발전터빈 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3131Power Production Plant Operators
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Power production plant operators operate, monitor and maintain switchboards and related equipment in electrical control centres which control the production and distribution of electrical or other power in transmission networks. The equipment operated includes reactors, turbines, generators and other auxiliary equipment in electrical power generating stations.
Tasks
- (a) operating, monitoring and inspecting various types of energy generating power plants;
- (b) operating and controlling power generating systems and equipment including boilers, turbines, generators, condensers, and reactors in hydro, thermal, coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power plants to generate and distribute electrical power;
- (c) controlling start-up and shut-down of power plant equipment, controlling switching operations, regulating water levels and communicating with systems operators to regulate and coordinate transmission loads, frequency and line voltages;
- (d) taking readings from charts, meters and gauges at established intervals, troubleshooting and performing corrective action as necessary;
- (e) completing and maintaining station records, logs and reports, and communicating with other plant personnel to assess equipment operating status;
- (f) cleaning and maintaining equipment such as generators, boilers, turbines, pumps, and compressors in order to prevent equipment failure or deterioration.
Example occupations
Distribution control operator · Electric power plant operator · Generating station operator · Hydroelectric power plant operator · Nuclear power plant operator · Solar power plant operator
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- fossil-fuel power plant operatorESCO 3131.1.3This occupation is broader
Fossil-fuel power plant operators operate and maintain industrial equipment, such as generators, turbines and boilers, that provides electricity produced from fossil fuels like natural gas or coal. They ensure the safety of operations and that the equipment complies with legislation. They may also work in combined cycle power plants which use heat recovery systems to recover exhaust heat from one operation and activate steam turbines.
- geothermal power plant operatorESCO 3131.1.4This occupation is broader
Geothermal power plant operators operate and maintain equipment, often steam-driven turbines, which produce electrical energy. They monitor measuring equipment to ensure the safety of operations, and that the production needs are met. They also react to system problems, and repair faults. They may regulate the generators to control the flow of electricity to the power lines.
- hydroelectric plant operatorESCO 3131.1.5This occupation is broader
Hydroelectric plant operators operate and maintain the equipment used in the production of energy from the movement of water. They monitor the measuring equipment, assess the production needs, and adapt the water flow to meet these needs. They also perform repairs and maintenance duties.
- power plant control room operatorESCO 3131.1.7This occupation is broader
Power plant control room operators are responsible for the safe and proper operation of power plants, switchyards and associated control structures. They repair and maintain the involved machinery and equipment to ensure the plant's efficient operation and to tackle emergency situations such as blackouts.
- power production plant operatorESCO 3131.1This occupation is broader
Power production plant operators maintain and operate the equipment in power stations and other energy production plants. They repair faults, operate machinery directly or from a control room, and handle materials related to electricity production in compliance with safety and environmental procedures. They facilitate interaction between electrical energy facilities, ensuring that distribution occurs safely.
- steam turbine operatorESCO 3131.1.9This occupation is broader
Steam turbine operators operate and maintain machinery which generates power. They ensure the safety of the operations and monitor operations to detect problems, and react to emergency situations.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2701 | Technicien / Technicienne d'exploitation en production d'énergie thermique | Same scopeprovisional |
| H2716 | Opérateur / Opératrice de centrale solaire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2709 | Conducteur / Conductrice d'installation d'incinération | Related, not a match |
| H2712 | Technicien / Technicienne d'exploitation en centrale hydroélectrique | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 3131 | Técnicos en instalaciones de producción de energía | Same scope |
| 8192 | Operadores de calderas y máquinas de vapor | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 26232 | Berufe in der Energie- und Kraftwerkstechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scope |
| 26233 | Berufe in der Energie- und Kraftwerkstechnik - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 641 | 発電員，変電員 | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources