Also called: Hydro Operator
Runs the turbines and gates at hydroelectric dams to make power and manage river flows.
You open gates to send more water through turbines as evening demand peaks, balance it against rules to protect fish and downstream towns, and inspect generators deep inside the dam.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma plus apprenticeship-style training.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Apprenticeship, Military. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Power Plant Technology (2-year).
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Many dams are now controlled remotely from central rooms, cutting on-site staff; operators still respond to floods and outages.
Classes: Physics, Earth science, Algebra.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-8013.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.