Power Plant and Gas Plant Operator Career Assessment
Running power stations and gas processing plants
Welcome
Power plant operators run the equipment that makes electricity. Gas plant operators run plants that process natural gas from North Dakota's oil fields.
These are some of the highest-paying jobs on the trades list. You will explore whether they fit you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Power Plant and Gas Plant Operator?
Operators control boilers, turbines, generators, pumps, and processing equipment from a control room and in the plant. They watch gauges and computer screens, make adjustments, and respond to alarms.
The Reality: Plants run 24/7, so you will work rotating 12-hour shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Safety is critical around high pressure, heat, and gas.
Your Responsibilities:
- Monitor control room screens
- Walk the plant to check equipment
- Start up and shut down equipment
- Respond to alarms
- Record readings
- Follow safety procedures
- Work with maintenance crews
- Handle emergencies
You keep power and energy flowing.
A Day in the Life
6:00 PM — Night shift begins. Get a handoff from the day crew.
6:30 PM — Plant rounds: check pumps, boilers, and gauges.
9:00 PM — Adjust output as power demand changes.
12:00 AM — Meal break in the break room.
1:00 AM — An alarm sounds. Investigate and fix a valve issue.
3:00 AM — Record readings.
6:00 AM — Hand off to the day crew.
Steady monitoring with moments of urgent action.
Training in North Dakota
No state license. Employers train on the job. A 1–2 year power or process technology program gives you a strong head start.
Training Pathways:
- Power Generation Technology (certificate or AAS): On campus or online.
- Power Process Technology AAS: For power, refinery, and gas processing jobs.
- Entry-level plant job: Many start as helpers and train up.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Bismarck State College — Power Generation Technology, certificate (56 credits) or AAS; on campus or online
- Bismarck State College — Power Process Technology, AAS (online or on campus)
- These can stack into a BSC bachelor's in Energy Management
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Strong math and science. Drug testing and background checks are common.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
No state license required. Employers provide plant-specific training and safety certifications.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- Plant safety training (OSHA, lockout/tagout)
- Company operator qualifications
The Exams: Employer-run.
Cost: Employers usually pay.
Keeping It Current: Ongoing training.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Power Plant Operator Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $50.14–$55.39/hour ($104,300–$115,210/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $58.73/hour ($122,160/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $58.73–$64.56/hour ($122,160–$134,280/year)
What that means: Power plant operators in ND are among the highest-paid workers on the whole in-demand list. ND gas plant operators earn a median of about $46.52/hour ($96,760/year).
Jobs in North Dakota: About 390 people work as power or gas plant operators in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 350 (about 10% fewer jobs). Expect about 40 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is fewer jobs (power −11%, gas −9%).
Outlook: Jobs are shrinking as some coal plants close, but about 40 openings a year still come up in ND as workers retire. Pay stays very high.
Who Hires in ND: Power plants (including lignite coal plants in central ND), gas processing plants in the Bakken, and utilities.
Work Setting: Control rooms and plant floors. Rotating 12-hour shifts, 24/7.
Physical Demands: Moderate. Walking the plant, climbing stairs and ladders, heat, noise, and some lifting.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 51-8013); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Control Room Operator — Senior operator role.
Path 2: Shift Supervisor — Lead a crew.
Path 3: Plant Manager — Run the plant.
Path 4: System Operator — Move to grid dispatch.
Path 5: Trainer — Teach new operators.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Very high pay
- Great benefits
- Online training option
- Important energy work
- Stable jobs while plants run
What's Hard:
- Rotating 12-hour shifts
- Nights, weekends, holidays
- Jobs shrinking as plants close
- Safety risks
- Plants are in specific areas
Be Honest: Can you handle rotating 12-hour shifts? Are you careful and alert? Are you OK living near a plant?