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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

Part of Manufacturing, in the Production pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 51-8013.04

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.

On a typical day

  • 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.

What it pays

$110,950
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $51,370
Experienced workers reach $130,740
  1. $51k10th
  2. $65k25th
  3. $111kMedian
  4. $111k75th
  5. $131k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $51,370, 25th $64,510, Median $110,950, 75th $110,950, 90th $130,740

About 220 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

-4.8%

employment change in the Alamo region, 248 to 236 jobs · U.S. -11%

22

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 2,500

248

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 31,600

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Long-term on-the-job training

Skills 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.

  1. Operations Monitoring3.9
  2. Equipment Maintenance3.9
  3. Critical Thinking3.1
  4. Operation and Control3.6
  5. Monitoring3.8
  6. Repairing3.8
  7. Troubleshooting3.8
  8. Reading Comprehension3.6

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.

  1. High school or less3%
  2. Certificate34%
  3. Some college22%
  4. Associate degree34%
  5. Bachelor's degree7%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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Does this fit you?

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