Solar power plant operator
Also known as: solar energy plant worker, solar farm worker, solar electricity power plant operator, solar energy plant operator, solar array worker, solar power plant maintenance operator
About this occupation
Solar power plant operators operate and maintain equipment which produce electrical energy from solar power. They monitor measuring equipment to ensure the safety of operations, and that the production needs are met. They also react to system problems, and repair faults.
A specialisation of power production plant operator.
Essential skills and knowledge
- monitor electric generators
- respond to electrical power contingencies
- electric current
- maintain records of maintenance interventions
- install photovoltaic systems
- install concentrated solar power systems
- electricity
- solar energy
- electric generators
- apply health and safety standards
- maintain electrical equipment
- electrical power safety regulations
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Power Plant Operators (O*NET 51-8013.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
- Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
- Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
- Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
- Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring
US median pay: US$102,040 a year (2025), 29,320 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (4.0)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryImportant (3.2)
- PhysicsO*NET: PhysicsImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Gas Plant Operators
- Geothermal Technicians
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
- Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.