Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Pay and outlook shown for
New workers start near $51,370; experienced workers reach $130,740. About 220 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.
Job outlook
Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.
- Employment change
- -4.8%
- Openings a year
- 22
- Employed in 2024
- 248
Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Long-term on-the-job training
Alamo Colleges programs that lead here
No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.
Browse all programsSkills this career uses
The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Equipment Maintenance3.9
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Operation and Control3.6
- Monitoring3.8
- Repairing3.8
- Troubleshooting3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
What the work is
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.
- Identify or address malfunctions of hydroelectric plant operational equipment, such as generators, transformers, or turbines.
- Monitor hydroelectric power plant equipment operation and performance, adjusting to performance specifications, as necessary.
- Start, adjust, or stop generating units, operating valves, gates, or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric power generating plants.
- Communicate status of hydroelectric operating equipment to dispatchers or supervisors.
- Implement load or switching orders in hydroelectric plants, in accordance with specifications or instructions.
- Inspect water-powered electric generators or auxiliary equipment in hydroelectric plants to verify proper operation or to determine maintenance or repair needs.
Education people in this job have
Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.
- High school or less3%
- Certificate34%
- Some college22%
- Associate degree34%
- Bachelor's degree7%
Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.
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