Careers > Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

$93.06K Median Salary 2.5K Job Openings (Annual Projection) -13.7% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Hydro Plant Technician, Hydro Technician, Hydroelectric Mechanic, Hydroelectric Operations and Maintenance Technician (Hydro O and M Technician), Hydroelectric Plant Technician, Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Technician), Plant Mechanic, Power Plant Mechanic, Power Plant Operator, Power Plant Technician

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Near Vision

Information Ordering

Oral Comprehension

Control Precision

Selective Attention

Speech Recognition

Manual Dexterity

Oral Expression

Speech Clarity

Written Comprehension

Category Flexibility

Far Vision

Finger Dexterity

Multilimb Coordination

Perceptual Speed

Trunk Strength

Visualization

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Mathematical Reasoning

Extent Flexibility

Flexibility of Closure

Written Expression

Knowledge

Mechanical

Mathematics

Public Safety and Security

Engineering and Technology

Physics

Design

Building and Construction

English Language

Computers and Electronics

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Critical Thinking

Operation and Control

Equipment Maintenance

Monitoring

Repairing

Speaking

Troubleshooting

Active Listening

Coordination

Reading Comprehension

Active Learning

Judgment and Decision Making

Social Perceptiveness

Complex Problem Solving

Mathematics

Quality Control Analysis

Writing

Technology Skills

Electronic mail software

Industrial control software

Spreadsheet software

Facilities management software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Internet browser software

Tools

Stripping tools

Two way radios

Multimeters

Ammeters

Drill press or radial drill

Ratchets

Flow sensors

Respirators

Platform lift

Acoustic ear muffs or defenders

Horizontal turning center

Pressure indicators

Notebook computers

Socket sets

Power drills

Handheld thermometer

Steam engines

Locking pliers

Spot welding machine

Turbine engines

Adjustable wrenches

Claw hammer

Microcontrollers

Level sensors or transmitters

Hydroelectric engines

Workshop cranes

Grease guns

Wire cutters

Scaffolding

Forklifts

Power grinders

Desktop computers

Personal computers

Power saws

Screwdrivers

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Technology Skills

Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Facilities management software: Maintenance management software
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Internet browser software: Web browser software

Tools

Stripping tools: Wire strippers
Two way radios:
Multimeters:
Ammeters:
Drill press or radial drill: Drill presses; Punch presses; Radial drills
Ratchets: Ratchet sets
Flow sensors: Airflow indicators
Respirators: Half-face respirators; Respirator hose masks
Platform lift: Personnel and burden carriers; Platform lift trucks
Acoustic ear muffs or defenders: Protective ear muffs
Horizontal turning center: Turning lathes
Pressure indicators: Pressure meters
Notebook computers: Laptop computers
Socket sets: Socket wrench sets
Power drills: Hand drills
Handheld thermometer: Handheld thermometers
Steam engines: Steam turbines
Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers
Spot welding machine: Portable welding equipment
Turbine engines: Power production turbines
Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable hand wrenches
Claw hammer: Claw hammers
Microcontrollers: Programmable logic controllers PLC
Level sensors or transmitters: Level transmitters
Hydroelectric engines: Hydroelectric generating units
Workshop cranes: Hydraulic cranes
Grease guns:
Wire cutters:
Scaffolding:
Forklifts:
Power grinders: Underwater power grinders
Desktop computers:
Personal computers:
Power saws: Chain saws
Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets

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