Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

The daily work of hydroelectric plant technicians can be divided into three strands: (1) operations and monitoring—checking parameters at handover, inspecting equipment, recording readings, and making adjustments in accordance with specifications to maintain stable generating-unit operation; (2) faults and operations—identifying and addressing equipment malfunctions, starting, adjusting, or stopping units, and operating valves, gates, and auxiliary equipment; (3) maintenance and safety—performing preventive and corrective maintenance, isolation and lockout/tagout, containment or cleanup to prevent pollution, and equipment-status reporting and recordkeeping. All three share the same safety and parameter requirements but produce different outcomes: operations concern unit condition, fault handling and operations concern equipment actions, and maintenance and safety concern equipment availability and risk control.

O*NET 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians: monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation; operate turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, battery banks, and other equipment; monitor equipment operation and performance and make necessary adjustments; and perform maintenance and repairs as needed. Core tasks include monitoring equipment operation and performance, identifying and addressing malfunctions, starting, adjusting, or stopping generating units, inspecting equipment and determining repair needs, performing containment or cleanup to prevent pollution, and reporting equipment status. Job Zone Three: medium preparation needed.

Wear common protective or safety equipment | 100% report daily Face-to-face discussions | 88% report daily Email | 86% report daily Importance of teamwork | 69% rate it extremely important Contact with others | 54% report constant contact Exposure to noise | 51% report daily Responsibility for other workers' health and safety | 53% report very high responsibility Consequences of error | 36% rate them extremely serious Importance of exactness or accuracy | 56% rate it very important

Work centers on field inspections and centralized-control duty, with tasks around rotating machinery, energized equipment, and outdoor environments. Shift duty and emergency response are common.

2025 wages are for the parent category Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013: median pay of 102,040 USD/year and 49.06 USD/hour; these are not separate wages for the hydroelectric specialization. BLS2025—2035 employment for the parent category Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013, falls from 29,800 to 28,300, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including growth and replacement needs. The overall projection does not establish AI causation, and openings are not net new jobs.

Check parameters at handover → Inspect equipment and take readings → Identify and assess anomalies → Adjust or operate equipment → Isolate for maintenance or repair → Restore operation, report, and record

The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average annual wages for employees in urban units by industry category, without distinguishing occupations. No safely matched national wage distribution has been established for hydroelectric plant technicians in mainland China. This page displays the gap rather than treating an industry average as an exact occupational wage.

Roles requiring judgments about equipment condition and fault causes use this as a basis and demand greater accuracy in recognizing parameter trends and anomalies.

BLS2025—2035 employment for the parent category Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013, falls from 29,800 to 28,300, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including growth and replacement needs. These figures do not represent actual recruitment or individual outcomes and cannot be attributed to generative AI.

Check operating parameters → Inspect and take readings → Detect anomalies and warning signs → Isolate, tag, and use protective measures → Address or escalate → Record and report status

In mainland China, entry requirements, special-operation qualifications, and safety responsibilities for power-production roles are governed by workplace safety regulations and the competent authorities. Education, training, special-operation certificates, job authorization, and work permits are different statuses and must be checked separately.

Communicate with dispatchers, supervisors, and maintenance teams, operate and inspect equipment, and keep records. Outputs are reviewable operating and maintenance records; evaluation follows equipment-availability measures and safety systems.

Key boundaries: this page covers only the specific occupation O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians, meaning technical roles in hydroelectric plant operation and maintenance. Adjacent occupations—hydroelectric production managers, power plant operators, industrial machinery mechanics, wind turbine service technicians, and water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators—differ in their work objects, qualifications, and responsibilities and cannot be treated as interchangeable based solely on job titles. High-voltage electrical and pressure-equipment operation, isolation, and work permits fall within authorization or responsibility boundaries and must follow organizational systems and applicable regulations.

Hydroelectric production managers are responsible for operating plans, staffing, and budget decisions and usually do not carry out daily field inspections and equipment operation.

Turn operation monitoring, fault handling, and maintenance into stable power generation and safety records, while completing reporting and recordkeeping.

Power plant operators work across multiple forms of generation. Equipment and procedures vary by plant type and cannot be applied interchangeably.

The work concerns hydroelectric equipment and systems, the plant environment, and operating parameters; it is based on equipment procedures, safety systems, and dispatch instructions.

Hydroelectric plant technicians (O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians) monitor and control hydropower-generation activities, operate hydroelectric plant equipment such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, and battery banks, monitor equipment operation and performance and make necessary adjustments, and perform equipment maintenance and repairs as needed. Official scope: 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. Core tasks include monitoring equipment operation and performance and adjusting it to specifications; identifying and addressing malfunctions in generators, transformers, turbines, and other equipment; starting, adjusting, or stopping generating units and operating valves and gates; performing preventive or corrective containment and cleanup to prevent environmental contamination; inspecting hydroelectric generators and auxiliary equipment; reporting equipment status to dispatchers or supervisors; and operating high-voltage switches and equipment. Common job titles include Hydro Plant Tech, Hydroelectric Mechanic, Hydro O&M Technician, Hydroelectric Operator, and Power Plant Mechanic. U.S. data on this page correspond to the 51-8013.04 occupation page, but wages and employment use the aggregated Power Plant Operators category. Mainland China's qualification and safety systems are marked separately using sources from the respective jurisdiction; the two systems are not interchangeable.

Industrial machinery mechanics mainly install and repair general machinery and usually do not monitor or dispatch hydroelectric generating units.

Handover and monitoring—inspection and adjustment—fault handling—maintenance and isolation—reporting and records, alongside emergency response.

Machinery installers primarily deliver equipment installation and alignment; operation monitoring accounts for a smaller share of their work.

Operating-parameter and inspection records, equipment repair and maintenance records, isolation and lockout/tagout records, and anomaly and status reports.

Machinery installers are responsible for installation quality and usually do not bear responsibility for generating-unit operation monitoring or power supply.

Individuals are responsible for the accuracy of their operations, parameter judgments, and records, and must stop and escalate work beyond their authority under the applicable system.

Decisions beyond an individual's authorization cannot be made unilaterally.

High-voltage electrical operations, pressure-equipment work, and work permits require decisions by qualified personnel or supervisors under organizational systems.

Qualification and workplace safety systems differ between the United States and mainland China and must be checked separately; they are not interchangeable.

This page does not promise any organization's recruitment, licensing, or hiring outcome.

Before accepting a role, check each of the following items relating to O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04 and mainland China's qualification and workplace safety systems. Treat every unverified item as pending verification; recruitment publicity cannot replace this check.

Basis: O*NET 51-8013.04 official definition and task list.

Check whether the role primarily involves operating and maintaining hydroelectric generating units, and confirm the equipment and systems within its responsibility.

Basis: O*NET Job Zone Three and education information.

Check education and training requirements (34% of respondents report a postsecondary certificate requirement and 34% report an associate's degree requirement; one to two years of training or apprenticeship is typically needed).

Basis: qualification and workplace safety rules in the job's jurisdiction and organizational systems.

Check whether special-operation certificates, such as an electrician's certificate, qualifications for work at height or in confined spaces, and organizational authorization for high-voltage electrical and pressure-equipment operation are required. Specific requirements are determined by the competent authority in the jurisdiction.

Basis: job posting and the organization's operating and shift systems.

Check the work arrangements—shifts and duty coverage, emergency response, and the balance of field and centralized-control work—and assessment criteria.

Basis: organizational safety and work-permit systems.

Check safety and inspection requirements: isolation and lockout/tagout, hazardous-work permits, personal protection, noise and fall protection, and anomaly-reporting procedures.

Basis: organizational occupational-health and protection requirements.

Check occupational-health and protection requirements covering noise, contaminants, extreme temperatures, confined spaces and material handling, and the effects of shift work on sleep and daily routines.

Conclusion | Hydroelectric plant technicians differ from adjacent occupations in their work objects and outputs. This occupation centers on monitoring hydroelectric generating units, operating equipment, and performing maintenance. Hydroelectric production managers handle operating plans and staffing and budget decisions; power plant operators work across multiple forms of generation; industrial machinery mechanics focus on general machinery installation and repair; wind turbine service technicians work on wind turbines; and water and wastewater treatment plant operators work on water-treatment systems. Treating titles as interchangeable can lead to incorrect assumptions about equipment and procedure boundaries.

Evidence note | Comparisons with adjacent occupations draw on the O*NET 51-8013.04 occupational profile and U.S. BLS data. China-related content is contextual comparison, without numerical conversion. Equipment, qualifications, and safety procedures must be checked separately for each direction.

The following comparison helps distinguish career directions. Each row addresses the same dimensions: core work and outputs, key differences from this occupation, and the preferences it may suit. Evidence links in the table lead to official U.S. occupation pages.

Centers on hydroelectric generating-unit operation and maintenance, producing operating and repair records

People willing to follow operating procedures around rotating and energized equipment

Monitor and operate hydroelectric equipment, perform maintenance and repairs, and keep records

Hydroelectric plant technicians (this occupation)

Centers on management and operating decisions, without carrying out field operations

People willing to take responsibility for operations management and business performance

Responsible for operating plans, staffing, and budget decisions

Hydroelectric production managers (adjacent)

Covers multiple forms of power generation, with equipment and procedures varying by plant type

People willing to perform operations in different types of power plants

Operate and control plant equipment for multiple forms of power generation

Power plant operators (adjacent)

Centers on general machinery, without responsibility for generating-unit operation monitoring and dispatch

People willing to install and repair general machinery

Install, repair, and maintain industrial machinery

Industrial machinery mechanics (adjacent)

Works on wind turbines, involving work at height and specialized procedures

People willing to maintain wind turbines and work at height

Install, maintain, and repair wind turbine generating units

Wind turbine service technicians (adjacent)

Works on water-treatment systems, with greater emphasis on water quality and process indicators

People willing to operate water-treatment systems

Operate and control water-treatment, water-supply, and drainage systems

Water and wastewater treatment plant operators (adjacent)

Transition note | Equipment, qualifications, and safety procedures differ across these directions. Changing direction requires the corresponding training and authorization; permits for high-voltage electrical and pressure-equipment work cannot be carried over between roles.

Students and prospective entrants

Use AI to retrieve equipment information and organize procedures, but do not treat generated content as operating procedures or a safety basis. First build solid skills in inspections, isolation and tagging, and fault assessment.

Practicing hydroelectric plant technicians

Use tools to reduce time spent organizing records, retrieving information, and analyzing parameter trends. You remain responsible under procedures for equipment operation, anomaly judgments, isolation, and work permits.

Plant and operations management

Define digital-tool boundaries within operating and safety systems, including whether tools may support monitoring analysis, information retrieval, and records, the data rules, and mechanisms for reviewing tool outputs and reverting when necessary.

Maintenance and dispatch personnel

Use tools to organize maintenance information and parameter trends, but do not replace field inspections, safety isolation, or work-permit judgments with automated conclusions.

Editorial analysis: information retrieval and record drafting are candidates for tool trials by hydroelectric plant technicians; parameter analysis requires validation of data, models, and actual site conditions. Insufficient evidence: this page has not obtained occupation-specific evidence on widespread generative AI adoption, productivity, or net employment effects and cannot determine the order of change, replacement probability, or dates. Operations, safety isolation, and permits follow procedures and authorization.

O*NET 51-8013.04 occupational profile and task list (United States)

Defines this occupation's task scope—operation monitoring, fault identification, generating-unit operation, inspection and maintenance, containment and cleanup, and reporting and records—and provides a basis for identifying information-processing tasks.

O*NET hydroelectric plant technicians: employment trends for the parent occupation, power plant operators

The BLS 2025—2035 table projects employment for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013, the parent occupation of hydroelectric plant technicians) at 29,800 in 2025 and 28,300 in 2035, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including replacements. This is an overall employment projection, without AI attribution, and is not a separate projection for this specialization.

ILO research on generative AI and the occupational exposure index for jobs

Helps explain how monitoring and information tasks are exposed to technology. The research mainly covers broad occupational groups rather than this occupation; exposure does not equal adoption or replacement.

NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)

Explains governance, accountability, and human-review principles when adopting tools; it is not an operating procedure or safety standard.

O*NET 51-8013.04 details: tasks and work activities

Checks the occupation's specific tasks and work activities to support assessments of task-level effects.

O*NET 51-8013.04 occupational scope and work context

Checks work context—protective equipment, noise, hazardous equipment and conditions, and consequences of error—and contextual boundaries.

O*NET 51-8013.04 national wages (BLS OEWS 2025)

Presents the wage-distribution scope for the related occupation (aggregated category); it does not concern AI adoption or job changes.

The following is an editorial comparison based on task objects: text organization is a candidate for trials, while field equipment, isolation, and permits require specific procedures, validation, and authorization. No measurements for this occupation support a relative speed improvement or adoption sequence.

Tools may assist with organizing parameter trends and flagging anomalies.

Judgment in field inspections, reading verification, and operating-mode adjustments.

Information retrieval and fault-report drafting may be accelerated.

Fault assessment and implementation of equipment operations and responses.

Tools may assist with maintenance records and information organization.

On-site judgments and responsibility for isolation and tagging, work permits, and safety implementation.

Why can employment evidence lead to different conclusions? Task exposure, organizational adoption, productivity changes, and job counts are four different measures, with different samples, methods, and periods. They cannot be inferred from one another.

A task-exposure index for broad occupational groups worldwide; it does not cover this occupation or measure adoption rates or employment outcomes.

ILO research on generative AI and the occupational exposure index for jobs

Generative AI task exposure across broad occupational groups worldwide

Physical and on-site operating tasks have relatively low exposure, but exposure itself does not equal job change.

U.S. occupational task descriptions, without conclusions on AI adoption or productivity.

O*NET 51-8013.04 tasks and work activities (United States)

This occupation's task content and ranking

Tasks center on operation monitoring, equipment operation, and maintenance; most stages require human on-site judgment and responsibility.

A governance framework, not operating procedures or safety standards; it does not measure employment effects.

NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)

Risk-management and governance principles for organizations adopting AI

Before adopting tools, define their purposes, permissions, review and fallback mechanisms, and responsible personnel.

Employment data for the related broad occupational category, without evidence of AI adoption in this occupation.

O*NET employment trends for the parent occupation, power plant operators

Employment outlook and size of the related occupation

Power plant operator employment is projected to decline by 5% in 2025—2035; this is an overall employment projection, without AI attribution.

U.S. occupational descriptions, without mainland China's qualification and safety systems.

O*NET 51-8013.04 occupational profile and official definition

This occupation's official definition, tasks, and training requirements

Core capabilities are equipment operation, fault assessment, and safety awareness; programming is not the entry threshold.

Editorial analysis: supportive uses in information retrieval and record drafting can be assessed; parameter and trend processing requires validated systems. Technology demonstrations do not establish field reliability, and model outputs do not carry job authorization or safety responsibility.

Insufficient evidence: this page has not obtained measurements of generative AI adoption or productivity for hydroelectric plant technicians. NIST AI RMF provides a risk-governance framework; it does not demonstrate widespread adoption or specific implementation standards in the power industry.

The BLS 2025—2035 table projects employment for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013, the parent occupation of hydroelectric plant technicians) at 29,800 in 2025 and 28,300 in 2035, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including replacements. This is an overall employment projection, without AI attribution, and is not a separate projection for this specialization. Insufficient evidence: this page has not obtained causal research on generative AI's net employment effects for this occupation.

Insufficient evidence: no generative AI adoption rate, net employment effect, or replacement timetable has been obtained for hydroelectric plant technicians. Editorial analysis: information retrieval and record drafting may be trialed in an authorized environment; field operations, equipment operation, and safety responsibilities must still follow procedures and authorization.

ILO task-exposure research (cannot predict replacement of this occupation)

O*NET lists monitoring, critical thinking, and reading comprehension among skills. This does not establish that all employers have no programming requirement. Check whether the target role requires control systems, scripting, or data tools; tool proficiency does not replace safety qualifications.

O*NET tasks and skills; check employer postings for specific requirements

Editorial analysis: information retrieval and record drafting are candidates for low-risk trials; parameter analysis requires validated systems and checks against instruments and field conditions. This analysis does not measure the adoption sequence or relative exposure of this occupation's tasks.

O*NET task list; task-trial recommendations are editorial analysis

The BLS 2025—2035 table projects employment for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013, the parent occupation of hydroelectric plant technicians) at 29,800 in 2025 and 28,300 in 2035, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including replacements. This is an overall employment projection, without AI attribution, and is not a separate projection for this specialization.

O*NET employment trends (parent occupation, 2025—2035)

Tool outputs do not themselves constitute job authorization or work permits. Editorial recommendation: for high-voltage electrical work, isolation, or safety operations, appropriately qualified and authorized personnel should review and decide according to site procedures. Model suggestions must not directly become operating instructions.

O*NET equipment-operation tasks; authorization controls are editorial recommendations

Insufficient evidence: no research has been obtained that predicts the year this occupation will disappear. The ILO task-exposure index does not measure disappearance dates, job-replacement probabilities, or this occupation's adoption rate.

Measurement boundaries of the ILO occupational exposure index

Editorial recommendation: first practice checking equipment status, recording parameters, reporting anomalies, and understanding safety boundaries under supervision and within authorization. Then test whether information tools reduce errors or save time; do not promise these capabilities cannot be replaced.

O*NET tasks and skills; learning sequence is an editorial recommendation

When digital tools enter operating and maintenance workflows, accountability must remain intact. Every stage—task confirmation, tool processing, human review, recordkeeping, and authorization—needs a clearly responsible person and traceable evidence.

Define task goals, equipment and data boundaries, permitted tools, and content that must not be sent externally, including operating data, drawings, and safety information.

Limit tools to organizing parameters and trends, retrieving information, and drafting records. Do not let tools directly produce operating instructions, isolation plans, or safety conclusions.

Responsible personnel must check parameters, equipment status, and procedures item by item, confirm consistency with actual site conditions, and assess compliance with safety and work requirements.

Record the tools and versions used, key inputs, changes, and their basis so results are reproducible and traceable for later review and incident investigation.

Specify who authorizes final operations, isolation, and work permits. Submit high-voltage electrical and pressure-equipment work to qualified personnel or supervisors for decisions under organizational systems.

Tool-generated parameters or conclusions are treated as confirmed conditions, carrying errors into operations and repairs

Label generated content as provisional and check field parameters and equipment status item by item before using it

Operating and safety information is sent externally, creating compliance and safety risks

Follow organizational information requirements and confirm authorization and the minimum necessary scope before use

Tool versions and inputs are not recorded, making it difficult to reconstruct the basis for decisions after an incident

Consistently record tools, versions, and key inputs, and retain change histories

Incorrect or missed anomaly alerts delay responses and increase risk

Check alerts against instruments and actual site conditions; report and recheck anomalies according to procedures

Missing review leaves operating and safety responsibilities unclear, making accountability difficult when problems occur

Define tool-use boundaries and responsible personnel in operating systems, with qualified personnel deciding safety matters

Field inspections, reading verification, and operating-mode adjustments.

Operation monitoring

Monitor equipment operation and performance

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Assess fault causes and decide how to respond.

Fault identification

Identify and address equipment malfunctions

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Operate valves, gates, and generating units according to procedures and verify their status.

Generating-unit operation

Start, adjust, or stop generating units

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Inspect on site, determine repair needs, and perform repairs.

Inspection and maintenance

Inspect equipment and perform repairs

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Assess conditions on site, carry out containment and cleanup, and report.

Environmental containment

Perform containment and cleanup

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Verify status and take responsibility for reports and records.

Reporting and records

Report and record status

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Carry out isolation and tagging, work permits, and on-site protection.

Safety isolation

Isolation, tagging, and protection

Editorial trial recommendation; widespread adoption or effects in this occupation have not been verified

Editorial recommendation: evaluate information retrieval and record drafting in an authorized environment, while checking requirements for equipment operation, safety isolation, anomaly escalation, and record review. Insufficient evidence: no widespread adoption rate or net employment effect has been obtained for this occupation; do not use this analysis to promise irreplaceable capabilities or employment outcomes.

Insufficient evidence: mainland China's public occupational statistics do not establish a national occupational wage distribution precisely matching U.S. O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians. The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations. This page does not fill the gap with industry averages, advertised pay, or U.S. data.

Market scope | This page records only the search scope and evidence gaps for mainland China. The corresponding U.S. occupation is SOC 51-8013.04; no numerical conversion is made between the two.

2025 (National Bureau of Statistics average annual wage statistics for employees in urban units)

Statistical period | Public statistics do not list this occupation separately. The National Bureau of Statistics reports by industry category, so this page does not present occupational values.

Yuan/year (average annual wages for employees in urban units)

Unit of measurement | The National Bureau of Statistics reports average wages annually. This page does not convert them into monthly wages or individual take-home income.

Insufficient evidence: no population-coverage value specific to this occupation has been obtained. Industry-category data include all occupations in related industries such as power generation and cannot represent hydroelectric plant technicians.

Population covered | Industry-category scope, including all occupations within related industries; it cannot represent hydroelectric plant technicians.

Insufficient evidence: mainland China's public occupational statistics do not establish a national occupational wage distribution precisely matching U.S. O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians. The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations. This page does not fill the gap with industry averages, advertised pay, or U.S. data.

Occupational scope | National statistics do not list this occupation separately; this page retains the search scope and evidence gaps.

Insufficient evidence: mainland China's public occupational statistics do not establish a national occupational wage distribution precisely matching U.S. O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians. The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations. This page does not fill the gap with industry averages, advertised pay, or U.S. data.

Sampling and missing-data limitations | Occupational values are not filled using individual power plants, individual advertised salaries, or samples from individual regions.

National Bureau of Statistics: average wages of employees in urban units in 2025

Source | Original links and data periods appear in this page's sources. Check scope and limitations before use.

Use industry-category average wages only to understand the general scale, not to infer individual starting pay or take-home income.

Usage recommendation | Occupational conclusions require official data listing the occupation separately; this page records the gap rather than filling it with substitutes.

AI exposure | This occupation centers on rotating-equipment operation, field inspections, and safety responses, with limited generative AI exposure in documentation and information tasks. This page does not score exposure. It only distinguishes tasks tools may assist with—organizing parameters and trends, retrieving information, and drafting records—from tasks requiring human responsibility: field inspections, equipment operation, fault assessment, isolation and work permits, and emergency response.

Occupational definition | Hydroelectric plant technicians on this page correspond to U.S. SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians. The official scope is monitoring and controlling activities associated with hydropower generation; operating turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, battery banks, and other equipment; monitoring equipment operation and performance and making necessary adjustments; and performing maintenance and repairs as needed. Mainland Chinese roles in hydroelectric operation and maintenance have similar tasks, but qualification and workplace safety systems belong to different jurisdictions. No numerical conversion is made between them.

Junior college diploma or associate's degree (power, electromechanical engineering, or automation related)

Plant inspection and maintenance assistance

Among O*NET respondents, 34% report a postsecondary nondegree certificate requirement and 34% an associate's degree. Job Zone Three indicates the preparation level of an occupational group; its one-to-two-year training description is not a universal training duration for this occupation. Check postings for requirements in China.

Relevant education plus job-specific and safety training

Hydro O&M technician, power plant mechanic

Editorial verification recommendation: check whether the target employer requires relevant education, job training, or safety qualifications. No recruitment sample has been obtained here that demonstrates uniform requirements across most Chinese hydropower roles.

Specialized equipment training and advanced operation and maintenance

Generating-unit control, electrical, or maintenance specialization

Responsibility for specialized equipment or advanced repairs typically requires additional training and authorization. Job authorization and work permits follow organizational and competent-authority requirements.

Special-operation certificates, such as electrician certification, and safety training (mainland China)

Power-production roles involving electrical and similar work

In mainland China, power-production roles involving electrical and similar work are governed by workplace safety regulations and organizational systems. Certification and work-permit requirements depend on current regulations and competent-authority requirements; certification and authorization are different statuses.

Electric power generation and supply

The O*NET industry page identifies electric power generation and supply as a main industry for the related occupation. National Bureau of Statistics average wages are reported by industry category without distinguishing occupations; this page does not use those data to fill occupational wage gaps.

Other industries (comparison)

Some roles are in integrated energy businesses and industrial captive power plants. Their staffing scale and assessment criteria differ; this page does not supply substitute values.

Other industries not listed separately (comparison)

Classifications and statistical scopes differ; no numerical conversion is made.

International reference: ILO research on generative AI and occupational exposure for jobs | https://www.ilo.org/publications/generative-ai-and-jobs-refined-global-index-occupational-exposure

Occupational title comparison | Hydroelectric plant technicians (U.S. SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians; recruitment titles commonly include hydro plant technician, hydroelectric mechanic, hydro O&M technician, hydroelectric operator, and power plant mechanic. These are distinct from occupations such as hydroelectric production managers, power plant operators, industrial machinery mechanics, wind turbine service technicians, and water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators).

Mainland China section | Mainland Chinese roles in hydroelectric operation and maintenance have tasks similar to hydroelectric plant technicians; their qualification and workplace safety systems are governed by workplace safety regulations and organizational systems. Public occupational statistics do not separately report a national wage distribution for this occupation: the National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages of employees in urban units by industry category without distinguishing occupations. Under the evidence policy, this page records only the statistical scope and visible gaps; it does not fill exact occupational values using industry averages, advertised pay, or U.S. wages.

Broad-scope reference: in the National Bureau of Statistics 2025 tables 2 / 5, average annual wages in urban non-private / private units in the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water industry are respectively 160,897 / 66,451 yuan. Hydroelectric operation and maintenance belongs to power generation, so this industry provides a reference for general scale. The two unit categories are reported separately and include all occupations in the industry and total pretax pay; these are not this occupation's median, entry-level salary, or take-home income. Insufficient evidence: this page has not obtained a precise national wage distribution for hydroelectric plant technicians in China and does not fill the gap with substitutes.

National Bureau of Statistics: average wages of employees in urban units in 2025 | https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202605/t20260518_1963740.html

Pay structure | Income in mainland Chinese power-production roles is generally related to organization type—generation group, plant or grid organization, or industrial captive power plant—region and cost of living, generating-unit and role type, shifts and duty arrangements, certification, and specialized maintenance responsibilities. This page provides no specific amounts.

Mainland China urban non-private units (related industry category, industry proxy)

Insufficient evidence: no national wage data specific to this occupation have been obtained. The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations; this page does not fill the gap with industry data.

Mainland China urban private units (related industry category, industry proxy)

Insufficient evidence: no national wage data specific to this occupation have been obtained. Private-unit statistics are also published by industry category and cannot be treated as hydroelectric plant technician wages.

Precise national occupational wages for this occupation in mainland China

Insufficient evidence: mainland China's public occupational statistics do not establish a national occupational wage distribution precisely matching U.S. O*NET/SOC 51-8013.04, Hydroelectric Plant Technicians. The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations. This page does not fill the gap with industry averages, advertised pay, or U.S. data.

Classification comparison | U.S. SOC 51-8013.04 identifies Hydroelectric Plant Technicians within power-production occupations, distinct from Power Plant Operators (51-8013.00), Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (51-8021.00), Industrial Machinery Mechanics (49-9041.00), and Wind Turbine Service Technicians (49-9081.00). International classifications such as ISCO-08 indicate only the broad position of power-production roles and cannot replace U.S. SOC or mainland Chinese occupational classifications and statistical scopes.

Source note: National Bureau of Statistics statistical scope for average wages of employees in urban units | https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202605/t20260518_1963740.html

Growth: decline (-11%, 2024—2034, BLS employment projections, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Median annual pay: 102,040 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Current verification: O*NET 51-8013.04 national wages; current official employment entry point https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/power-plant-operators.htm; OEWS definitions https://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/oews/concepts.htm. See this module and source notes for data subjects and access limitations.

10th-percentile annual pay: 61,790 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Scope | 10th-percentile annual pay for the aggregated U.S. Power Plant Operators category (2025, presented by O*NET). Boundary | This is the lower part of the distribution, not starting pay, and does not represent any particular employer or region.

25th-percentile annual pay: 79,690 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Scope | 25th-percentile annual pay for this aggregated U.S. category (2025, presented by O*NET). Boundary | This is the lower quartile; organization type, region, and shifts affect actual income.

Median annual pay: 102,040 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Scope | National median for this aggregated U.S. category (2025, presented by O*NET). Boundary | The median is the distribution's midpoint, not starting pay. OEWS excludes employer benefit costs and nonproduction bonuses but includes incentive payments such as production bonuses; median hourly pay is 49.06 USD.

75th-percentile annual pay: 119,080 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Scope | 75th-percentile annual pay for this aggregated U.S. category (2025, presented by O*NET). Boundary | This is the upper quartile; percentiles do not identify experience levels or the mix of organizations.

90th-percentile annual pay: 131,940 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Scope | 90th-percentile annual pay for this aggregated U.S. category (2025, presented by O*NET). Boundary | This is the upper part of the distribution, strongly affected by organization type, region, and shifts; it does not represent most workers.

Employment: approximately 31,600 (2024, BLS employment-projection base year, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Current-period note: 2025 employment for the parent occupation, power plant operators, is 29,800. The shared fact above still uses the old 2024 period and must not be treated as current.

Growth: decline (-11%, 2024—2034, BLS employment projections, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Current-period note: the parent occupation, power plant operators, is projected to decline by 5% in 2025—2035. This is an overall employment projection, without AI attribution. The old shared fact above is consumed by the Hero; the scope conflict is retained.

Projected annual openings: approximately 2,500 (2024—2034, BLS employment projections, aggregated Power Plant Operators category, including growth and replacements)

Current-period note: annual openings for the parent occupation, power plant operators, are 2,300 in 2025—2035, including replacements. These are not net new jobs or actual recruitment counts; the scope conflict in the old shared fact is retained.

Boundary | These values come from BLS OEWS 2025 wage data and BLS 2024—2034 employment projections presented by O*NET. On this occupation page, O*NET labels both datasets as the aggregated Power Plant Operators category. They do not apply to mainland China or other jurisdictions and do not promise individual pay or hiring outcomes. When official pages are updated, use the data available at the time of inquiry.

For U.S. Power Plant Operators in 2025 (SOC 51-8013, parent-occupation scope), median annual pay is 102,040 USD and hourly pay is 49.06 USD; the 10 / 25 / 75 / 90 percentiles are 61,790 / 79,690 / 119,080 / 131,940 USD/year. The current BLS 2025—2035 projection is a change from 29,800 to 28,300 employed, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including replacements. These are not separate statistics for hydroelectric plant technicians, and the overall employment projection does not attribute change to AI.

Organization type and generating units—generation groups, plant or grid organizations, and industrial captive power plants—affect income levels and stability; shifts and duty arrangements also affect actual income.

Organization type and generating units

Certification and responsibility for specialized repairs or advanced operation and maintenance affect earnings potential and growth paths.

Certification and specialized capabilities

Region, cost of living, installed capacity, and operating demand affect workload and income. Regional median wage data were not obtained and are recorded as a visible evidence gap.

Region and installed-capacity demand

Growth: decline (-11%, 2024—2034, BLS employment projections, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

Electric power generation and supply (NAICS 22)

Insufficient evidence: no median wage for this industry specific to this occupation was obtained in this round. The O*NET industry page lists main industries but not separate industry wages; this page does not fill the gap with estimates.

The O*NET industry page identifies electric power generation and supply as a main U.S. industry for the related occupation. On this occupation page, O*NET groups wages, employment, and industries under the aggregated Power Plant Operators category.

Other industries (comparison)

Insufficient evidence: no industry median wage specific to this occupation has been obtained.

Some roles are in integrated energy businesses and industrial captive power plants. Wages are not reported separately by industry; this page does not fill the gap with substitutes.

Other subsectors not listed separately

Insufficient evidence: no subsector median wage specific to this occupation has been obtained.

The O*NET industry page does not further subdivide other industries. Classifications and statistical scopes differ; no numerical conversion is made.

Other subsectors not listed separately (comparison)

Insufficient evidence: no subsector median wage specific to this occupation has been obtained; this page retains the gap rather than filling it with substitutes.

This page has not obtained a subsector median wage specific to this occupation.

Statistical percentiles indicate positions in a wage distribution, not experience levels, minimum wages, or individual starting pay. The 10th to 90th percentiles range from 61,790 to 131,940 USD/year (parent occupation, power plant operators, 2025).

OEWS measures pretax straight-time wage rates, including some incentive pay and production bonuses, but excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, and employer benefit costs. Percentiles cannot establish an individual's annual take-home income.

Data come from BLS OEWS, presented on the O*NET national wages page: 2025, parent category Power Plant Operators SOC 51-8013, U.S. national wage distribution, not a separate distribution for hydroelectric plant technicians.

Both wages and employment use the parent category Power Plant Operators SOC 51-8013 and cannot be treated as separate 51-8013.04 statistics. For the old employment projection in the body text, see this module's current-period notes; the old facts shared by the Hero/FAQ are outside this revision's scope.

Median annual pay: 102,040 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, aggregated Power Plant Operators category)

The 10th percentile is a distribution threshold, with about 10% of wages below it; it is not the minimum wage, entry-level pay, or pay for less-experienced roles.

The median is the distribution's midpoint, not an individual's starting pay or pay-growth trajectory.

The 90th percentile is a distribution threshold, with about 10% of wages above it; it does not establish the mix of certifications, experience, or organizations' ability to pay.

The O*NET 51-8013.04 interest code is RCI (Realistic—Conventional—Investigative). This assessment helps explore your preferences for hands-on equipment operation, procedural work, and investigation.

measured

The interest code is only directional guidance, not an ability or hiring conclusion. High preference scores alone cannot replace actual field experience.

Caution, dependability, and attention to detail can be suggested behavioral observations. O*NET occupational tasks do not validate this page's Big Five test as a predictor of performance in this occupation.

editorial

Work styles are descriptive clues. Actual task experience can help check preferences; no measurements of the magnitude of reduced fit have been obtained.

Understanding this interest code: RCI means Realistic (a preference for hands-on use of tools and equipment, physical work, and field work), Conventional (a preference for established processes and procedures), and Investigative (a preference for researching and analyzing equipment and technical problems). It suggests a combination of hands-on operation, procedural compliance, and investigation in this occupation rather than labeling people.

This page has not obtained validation studies linking MBTI types to competence or performance in this occupation. Observe willingness to read procedures, check equipment status, and report anomalies; type cannot determine suitability.

The O*NET 51-8013.04 interest code is RCI (Realistic—Conventional—Investigative).

editorial

RIASEC interest code (O*NET): R Realistic + C Conventional + I Investigative; specific interest areas include mechanics and electronics, physical activity, and manual work.

Interest code RCI

The skills list offers directional guidance, not a description of your current abilities; verify it with actual work evidence.

This page has not obtained validation studies linking the Enneagram to occupational performance. Equipment inspections and anomaly escalation are task-observation points, not evidence of Enneagram type matching.

editorial

Frequent activities do not necessarily mean monotonous work; together, these activities form the main flow of plant operations.

First assess specific foundations using simulated readings, unit conversions, drawings, and anomaly comparisons. This page provides no IQ or mathematics-grade hiring threshold; work-context percentages cannot establish a mathematics entry requirement.

editorial

Carefully weigh the demands if field risks, noise, or shift work would be difficult for you.

Observe whether you can clearly report status to dispatchers, listen to instructions, and escalate anomalies. This page has no evidence for a universal emotional-intelligence hiring threshold or performance prediction.

editorial

This self-assessment is editorially designed; it is not a hiring standard or an ability score.

Fit guidance on this page is for self-reflection only. It is not a hiring standard, ability score, or assessment of job competence, and does not constitute electrical, mechanical, safety, or legal advice.

Direct answer | Fit signals for hydroelectric plant technicians concern whether you can follow procedures in field inspections and equipment operation, stop and escalate when anomalies and risks arise, and preserve reviewable parameter and response records, rather than personality labels. The RCI interest code (Realistic—Conventional—Investigative) is only directional guidance; preferences do not equal talent or a hiring conclusion.

People willing to follow procedures around rotating and energized equipment and take responsibility for safety.

Fit signals: to assess suitability for hydroelectric plant technician work (this occupation), examine whether you can consistently perform its core operations in actual tasks, describe anomalies as actionable problems, and accept its safety and recordkeeping requirements.

People who find field risks, noise, or shift work difficult to tolerate.

People willing to take responsibility for operations management and business performance.

Fit signals: to assess suitability for hydroelectric production management, examine whether you can consistently perform its core operations in actual tasks, describe anomalies as actionable problems, and accept its safety and recordkeeping requirements.

People who prefer field operations to management.

People willing to perform operations in various power plant environments.

Fit signals: to assess suitability for power plant operator work, examine whether you can consistently perform its core operations in actual tasks, describe anomalies as actionable problems, and accept its safety and recordkeeping requirements.

People unwilling to work with multiple forms of generation and their procedures.

People willing to install and repair general machinery.

Fit signals: to assess suitability for industrial machinery mechanic work, examine whether you can consistently perform its core operations in actual tasks, describe anomalies as actionable problems, and accept its safety and recordkeeping requirements.

People who want responsibility for generating-unit operation monitoring.

People willing to maintain wind turbines and work at height.

Fit signals: to assess suitability for wind turbine service technician work, examine whether you can consistently perform its core operations in actual tasks, describe anomalies as actionable problems, and accept its safety and recordkeeping requirements.

People unwilling to work at height.

People willing to operate water-treatment systems.

Fit signals: to assess suitability for water and wastewater treatment plant operator work, examine whether you can consistently perform its core operations in actual tasks, describe anomalies as actionable problems, and accept its safety and recordkeeping requirements.

People unwilling to work with water-treatment processes and chemicals.

No personality label guarantees suitability. Observe willingness to inspect according to procedures, check equipment, and record anomalies.

Introversion is not disqualifying. You still need to report clearly to dispatchers and maintenance teams, repeat instructions back, and escalate anomalies.

Extraversion does not guarantee performance. Check procedural compliance, careful reading of instruments, and status verification as well.

This page has no validation research supporting any MBTI type as best suited to this occupation; types are only for self-exploration.

O*NET interest code RCI: Realistic, Conventional, and Investigative. It describes interests in occupational tasks and cannot replace assessments of individual ability or hiring decisions.

This page has not obtained validation studies showing that personality-test scores predict performance in this occupation; occupational work styles are not evidence of test validity.

First assess specific foundations using simulated readings, unit conversions, drawings, and anomaly comparisons. This page provides no IQ or mathematics-grade hiring threshold; work-context percentages cannot establish a mathematics entry requirement.

Observe whether you can clearly report status to dispatchers, listen to instructions, and escalate anomalies. This page has no evidence for a universal emotional-intelligence hiring threshold or performance prediction.

This page has not obtained validation studies linking the Enneagram to occupational performance. Equipment inspections and anomaly escalation are task-observation points, not evidence of Enneagram type matching.

Editorial recommendation: use public or simulated materials to organize operating records and explain anomalies and escalation boundaries. Compare against target job tasks, then check training and authorization. Do not operate equipment without authorization.

Signal one | Can you follow procedures in field inspections and equipment operation and record parameters?

Signal two | Can you stop, isolate, and escalate when anomalies and risks arise?

Signal three | Can you implement isolation and tagging and work permits while staying alert?

Purpose: occupational definition and task objects

Purpose: work context and skills, not personality-test validity

Purpose: background on the parent occupation, power plant operators, not personality validation for this specialization

Purpose: national wage distribution, not evidence of test validity or AI effects

Purpose: search entry point for China's workplace safety laws, not AI-governance research

Purpose: search entry point for electricity laws, not test validity

Purpose: AI-governance framework, not occupational personality-matching research

Purpose: task-exposure index, not hiring or personality-prediction research

Boundary | This page lists common occupational risks in equipment operation, isolation and tagging, hazardous work, and anomaly reporting to highlight control priorities. It is not an operating procedure, safety standard, or legal advice. Specific responses must follow organizational systems and applicable regulations.

Direct answer | The main risks for hydroelectric plant technicians fall into four categories: rotating and energized equipment operation, isolation and work permits, hazardous work and environmental exposure, and reporting parameters and anomalies. The control priority is to make each step reviewable through records and to stop and escalate when anomalies arise or work exceeds authority.

Evidence scope | Risk items draw on O*NET 51-8013.04 tasks and work context—protective equipment daily, 100%; very high responsibility for other workers' health and safety, 53%; hazardous-equipment exposure once a week or more, 42%; high-place exposure once a month or more, 54%; consequences of error rated extremely serious, 36%—and related workplace safety requirements. China-related system boundaries are editorial synthesis and remain subject to current regulations and organizational systems.

Hydroelectric plant technicians, supervisors

Injury or equipment damage

Isolate, lock out/tag out, and verify; operate according to procedures and check status

Improper operation of rotating or energized equipment

Hydroelectric plant technicians, permit issuers

Accidental startup or incidents involving pressurized or energized equipment

Implement isolation and lockout/tagout, check permits, and retain records

Failure to implement isolation or work permits

Hydroelectric plant technicians, safety department

Falls from height, noise injury, or contaminant exposure

Wear required protective equipment and implement measures for work at height and in confined spaces

Inadequate protection for hazardous work and environmental exposure

Hydroelectric plant technicians, dispatchers

Escalating faults or power-supply incidents

Inspect and check parameters according to procedures; immediately report and recheck anomalies

Misread parameters or delayed anomaly reporting

Hydroelectric plant technicians, environmental department

Environmental pollution and compliance risks

Contain and clean up according to procedures, report promptly, and keep records

Failure to promptly contain oil or water leaks

Hydroelectric plant technicians, supervisors

Unauthorized work creates safety and legal responsibilities

Define authorization and permit boundaries; submit relevant work to qualified personnel for decisions

Electrical or pressure-equipment work beyond authorization

Scope: U.S. 51-8013.04 tasks and work context.

Scope: U.S. wage and employment data (aggregated category), not individual employment conclusions.

Scope: qualification and workplace safety systems, subject to current regulations and organizational systems.

Scope: search entry point for China's electricity regulatory system; it does not independently establish operating-data management or specific incident risks described on this page.

Scope: risks and responses on this page are editorial synthesis, not operating procedures or legal advice.

Qualification boundary one | Education, training records, special-operation certificates, job authorization, and work permits are different statuses. Meeting education and training requirements does not mean obtaining a special-operation certificate, and obtaining a certificate does not authorize a particular instance of high-voltage electrical or pressure-equipment work.

Qualification boundary two | In mainland China, power-production roles involving electrical and similar work are governed by workplace safety regulations and organizational systems. These requirements are jurisdiction-sensitive and must follow current regulations and competent-authority requirements.

Qualification boundary three | In the U.S. O*NET survey, 34% report a postsecondary nondegree certificate and 34% an associate's degree. The Job Zone group description is not a uniform training duration for this occupation and does not establish China's legal entry requirements.

Qualification boundary four | Preparation items on this page are directions for searching and checking, not any organization's official qualification list. Organizational announcements and competent-authority requirements take precedence if they differ. This page provides no conclusions about individual ability or background, hiring likelihood, or pay promises.

Recruitment sample note | This page cites no counts or pay figures from specific job postings. Hydroelectric plant technician roles are commonly entered through generation groups, plant or grid organizations, and industrial captive power plants. Public-channel samples are unlikely to represent the entire market; organization type, generating units, and region substantially affect staffing scale.

Checking recommendation | When reading recruitment information, record publication date, location, organization and generating-unit type, role category (operations, repairs, or operation and maintenance), shifts and duty arrangements, certification and work-permit requirements, safety training, and pay structure. These reveal actual conditions better than job titles. These are editorial checking recommendations, not quotations from current vacancies.

Boundary | Capability stages and career tracks in this module are editorial synthesis describing common forms of development, not a uniform tenure schedule or promotion guarantee. Actual requirements follow organizational and safety systems. Education, training, special-operation certificates, and work permits must be checked separately.

Can inspect, record parameters, and assist with maintenance under guidance, follow procedures, and accept feedback.

Supervised operations assistant

Can independently inspect, assess parameters, perform common equipment operations, handle common anomalies, and maintain consistent records.

Independent operations technician

Can lead complex generating-unit operations or specialized repairs, produce verifiable operating and maintenance records, and mentor others.

Senior operation and maintenance or shift-lead personnel

Participates in plant-level operating standards and safety management and takes responsibility for equipment availability and safety.

Operations and safety lead

Direct answer | Entry typically combines relevant education with job-specific and safety training. First master basic operation and maintenance through inspections, isolation, and equipment operation, then gradually take on specialized equipment and advanced repairs. Electrical and similar work requires the corresponding operation certificates. Both paths require verifiable operating and maintenance records to demonstrate ability, rather than certificates alone.

Education, training records, special-operation certificates, job authorization, and work permits must be checked separately. Education is a screening starting point; training documents learning experience; operation certificates are one legal condition for some work; job authorization determines operating and repair responsibilities; work permits determine whether a particular high-voltage electrical or pressure-equipment task may start. These five statuses are not interchangeable.

Mainland China / United States

Mainland China: power-production roles involving electrical and similar work are governed by workplace safety regulations and organizational systems; certification and work-permit requirements follow current regulations and competent authorities. United States: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone Three; 34% of respondents report a postsecondary certificate requirement and 34% an associate's degree requirement. Qualification and safety systems differ and must be checked separately; they are not interchangeable.

Supports descriptions of entry-level roles and initial tasks through the specific occupation's task list.

U.S. Job Zone occupational-group preparation level and respondents' education requirements, not China's legal education threshold or a fixed training period for this occupation.

Supports mainland China's workplace safety system boundaries, which are jurisdiction-sensitive.

For special operations in Chinese production and business entities, work scope follows the catalog. Personnel must pass specialized training and assessments and obtain operation certificates before working; job authorization requires a separate check.

Depends on organizational requirements; basic electrical knowledge and safety awareness are needed.

Work toward independently completing inspections and common equipment operations.

Submit inspection and operating records and obtain mentor feedback.

Inspect and record parameters under guidance and follow safety standards.

Operations assistant (entry level)

Depends on organizational requirements; electrical work requires certification.

Learn complex generating-unit operations and emergency response.

Submit operating records and documented anomaly responses.

Independently complete inspections, parameter assessments, and common operations.

Operations technician

Depends on organizational requirements; specialized training and experience are usually needed.

Turn experience into reusable operating procedures and training materials.

Submit complex-operation cases and records.

Lead complex generating-unit operations and emergency response, and mentor newcomers.

Senior operations personnel

Determined by organizational personnel and management systems.

Participate in plant-level operations and safety governance.

Submit operating-quality and safety-assessment records.

Coordinate shift operations and safety and accept responsibility.

Shift supervisor or operations lead

Depends on organizational requirements; mechanical knowledge and safety awareness are needed.

Learn to perform equipment repairs independently.

Submit repair-assistance records.

Assist with disassembly, assembly, cleaning, and component replacement.

Maintenance assistant (entry level)

Depends on organizational requirements; special operations require certification.

Learn repairs of complex equipment and systems.

Submit repair records and commissioning data.

Independently repair and commission equipment.

Maintenance technician

Depends on organizational requirements; extensive experience is usually needed.

Participate in maintenance standards and spare-parts management.

Submit overhaul records and technical-modification materials.

Lead overhauls or specialized technical modifications and mentor others.

Specialized maintenance lead

Determined by organizational technical and quality systems.

Promote improvements in equipment management and safety standards.

Submit reliability analyses and improvement records.

Participate in equipment reliability analysis and improvement.

Equipment reliability lead

Depends on organizational requirements; foundations in controls and data are needed.

Learn to take independent monitoring and control responsibilities.

Submit monitoring and data records.

Assist with parameter monitoring and operating-data organization.

Control assistant (entry level)

Depends on organizational requirements; operating experience is usually needed.

Participate in emergency and dispatch coordination.

Submit monitoring records and documented coordination.

Monitor parameters in a centralized control room and coordinate field operations.

Control and monitoring personnel

Determined by organizational safety systems.

Promote improvements in safety standards and emergency systems.

Submit inspection and drill records.

Participate in safety inspections, drills, and emergency response.

Safety and emergency personnel

Determined by organizational and competent-authority requirements.

Participate in developing industry safety and operating standards.

Submit standards documents and safety-assessment records.

Coordinate development of safety and operating standards.

Safety and operations lead

The BLS 2025—2035 table projects employment for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013, the parent occupation of hydroelectric plant technicians) at 29,800 in 2025 and 28,300 in 2035, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including replacements. This is an overall employment projection without AI attribution, not a separate projection for this specialization. Exact Chinese occupational wages remain an evidence gap; transitions to adjacent occupations require corresponding training, work-category checks, and authorization.

United States

2025—2035

Overall employment projection for the parent occupation, power plant operators, without AI attribution; openings include replacements and are not net new jobs or actual recruitment.

Aggregated category; projections include replacement needs and do not equal actual recruitment or individual employment outcomes.

Employment growth

Aggregated Power Plant Operators category (not the single specific occupation 51-8013.04)

Decline of 5%

United States

2025—2035

Overall employment projection for the parent occupation, power plant operators, without AI attribution; openings include replacements and are not net new jobs or actual recruitment.

Aggregated category; it does not represent this occupation's openings in any particular region.

Annual job openings

Aggregated Power Plant Operators category

2,300/year

Mainland China

2025 (industry statistical period)

The National Bureau of Statistics reports average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations, so these cannot establish occupational values for hydroelectric plant technicians.

Industry proxy; no substitution using industry averages, advertised pay, or U.S. data.

Mainland China occupational wages

No precise occupational scope available; only industry-category average wages (industry proxy)

Insufficient evidence

See O*NET national wages for the current wage distribution and O*NET occupational details for current employment projections. Both use the parent category, power plant operators; check their data periods separately.

See O*NET national wages for the current wage distribution and O*NET occupational details for current employment projections. Both use the parent category, power plant operators; check their data periods separately.

Explains that mainland China publishes average wages by industry category without distinguishing occupations.

Explains this occupation's tasks and work activities to support comparisons with adjacent directions.

Needs development: operating plans, staffing, and budget management.

Plant operations and safety experience.

Moderate (transition from execution to management)

Needs development: equipment and procedures for different forms of power generation.

Plant-equipment operation and monitoring experience.

Close (similar operating skills)

Needs development: boiler and pressure-equipment work and certification.

Equipment-operation and pressure-system experience.

Moderate (additional pressure-equipment knowledge and certification needed)

Needs development: wind turbine technology and work-at-height qualifications.

Equipment maintenance and safety awareness.

Moderate (additional turbine and work-at-height qualifications needed)

Needs development: general machinery installation and alignment methods.

Mechanical repair and troubleshooting skills.

Close (similar repair skills)

Needs development: water-quality processes and treatment-system procedures.

Equipment-operation and monitoring experience.

Moderate (different process objects)

Needs development: electrical installation and work qualifications.

Foundations in electricity and circuits.

Close (similar electrical foundations; additional qualifications needed)

Needs development: precision installation and alignment methods.

Experience with mechanical equipment and tools.

Close (similar mechanical skills)

Author verification in this round: O*NET 51-8013.04 definition, tasks, interests, and actually available fields; wages and employment checked separately against the current official periods. 2025 wages are for the parent occupation Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013: median 102,040 USD/year and 49.06 USD/hour, not separate hydroelectric-specialization wages. BLS2025—2035 employment for the parent occupation Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013, falls from 29,800 to 28,300, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including growth and replacements. China's NBS2025 is only a conditional industry reference. AI adoption effects, test validity, and recruitment requirements were not obtained. Historical registrations and old shared facts in unselected modules are separately listed as scope conflicts.

Source card | Source register: this page registers the O*NET 51-8013.04 occupational profile, detailed information, national wages, industry distribution, hot technologies, certification directory, and national training entries; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS 2025), employment projections, and methodological notes; National Bureau of Statistics average annual wages of employees in urban units; the Work Safety Law, Electric Power Law, and Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Provisions on Safety Technical Training and Assessment for Special Operations Personnel; the ILO generative AI and jobs occupational exposure index; the NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework; and entries for adjacent occupations such as power plant operators and industrial machinery mechanics.

This round checked O*NET details on 2026-10-11 (page marked Updated 2025), 2025 national wages, 2025—2035 parent-occupation employment projections, NBS2025 industry wages, and OEWS definitions. Historical shared sources and old Hero/FAQ facts were unchanged; this does not establish that all page data are synchronized.

Current scope: 2025 wages are for the parent occupation Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013: median 102,040 USD/year and 49.06 USD/hour, not separate hydroelectric-specialization wages. BLS2025—2035 employment for the parent occupation Power Plant Operators, SOC51-8013, falls from 29,800 to 28,300, a decline of 5%; O*NET reports 2,300 annual openings, including growth and replacements. U.S. statistical subjects and China's industry proxy are separate; wage percentiles are not starting pay, and openings are not net new jobs. Shared old-period facts still have unselected consumers; the entire page cannot be claimed to use one period. Precise Chinese occupational wages, generative AI adoption and causality, and personality-test validity were not obtained.