Will power plant operators be replaced by AI?
Updated
Power plant operators score 28 of 100 for AI exposure. 60% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 11% today and speed up another 29%.
- 11% AI can do it
- 29% AI helps
- 60% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 66% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 30 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 3 of them today, speeds up 8 and leaves 19 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports. Logging and compiling data is highly automatable record work. | 75% AI can do it |
| Prepare and submit compliance, operational, and safety forms or reports. Compliance forms and reports are highly templated and automatable. | 75% AI can do it |
| Verify that well field monitoring data conforms to applicable regulations. Checking monitoring data against rules is largely automatable. | 65% AI can do it |
| Analyze the layout, instrumentation, or function of electrical generation or transmission facilities. AI can review drawings and documentation to analyze facility layout. | 55% AI helps |
| Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status. AI can summarize logbooks; personnel communication stays human. | 50% AI helps |
| Receive outage calls and request necessary personnel during power outages or emergencies. AI call triage can route outage calls and staffing requests. | 50% AI helps |
| Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems. AI anomaly detection can flag equipment problems from sensor data. | 40% AI helps |
| Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers. Control loops already automate much of this; AI adds recommendations. | 35% AI helps |
| Diagnose or troubleshoot problems with gas collection systems. AI can help interpret gas data; field diagnosis stays physical. | 35% AI helps |
| Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals. AI can flag abnormal readings for operator decisions. | 30% AI helps |
Show the other 20 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Monitor well fields periodically to ensure proper functioning and performance. Site walks are physical; AI can review monitoring data trends. | 30% AI helps |
| Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations. Power setpoints are largely automated with dispatch decisions. | 20% Needs a person |
| Examine and test electrical power distribution machinery and equipment, using testing devices. Hands on electrical testing; AI can interpret logged test results. | 18% Needs a person |
| Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment. Control boards and turbines need operator hands and judgement. | 15% Needs a person |
| Trace electrical circuitry to ensure compliance of electrical systems with applicable codes or laws. Tracing circuits in buildings needs physical presence and codes. | 15% Needs a person |
| Operate, control, or monitor equipment, such as acid or gas carbon dioxide removal units, carbon dioxide compressors, or pipelines, to capture, store, or transport carbon dioxide exhaust. CO2 capture and compression plant operation is physical work. | 15% Needs a person |
| Communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate line voltages and transmission loads and frequencies. Live coordination with grid operators is mostly human dialogue. | 15% Needs a person |
| Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels. Synchronizing generator to grid needs hands on board control. | 12% Needs a person |
| Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes. Fuel cell and microturbine operation is mostly physical equipment work. | 12% Needs a person |
| Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power. Pumps, fans and compressors need physical upkeep and checks. | 12% Needs a person |
| Operate landfill gas, methane, or natural gas fueled electrical generation systems. Operating landfill gas generators is physical plant work. | 12% Needs a person |
| Operate, control, or monitor gasifiers or related equipment, such as coolers, water quenches, water gas shifts reactors, or sulfur recovery units, to produce syngas or electricity from coal. Gasifier operation is physical plant work with live process control. | 12% Needs a person |
| Operate, control, or monitor integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) or related equipment, such as air separation units, to generate electricity from coal. IGCC plant operation is physical and safety critical work. | 12% Needs a person |
| Place standby emergency electrical generators on line in emergencies and monitor the temperature, output, and lubrication of the system. Starting standby generators is physical; AI can watch telemetry. | 12% Needs a person |
| Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary. Starting and stopping plant equipment is physical and procedural work. | 10% Needs a person |
| Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units. Opening valves and switches in sequence is physical work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Clean, lubricate, or maintain equipment, such as generators, turbines, pumps, or compressors, to prevent failure or deterioration. Cleaning and lubricating heavy machinery is physical work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Collect oil, water, or electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis. Physical sample collection from equipment is hands-on work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland or pipe joints. Tightening leaks at glands and joints requires physical presence. | 4% Needs a person |
| Repair or replace gas piping. Repairing or replacing gas piping is skilled physical trade work. | 3% Needs a person |
How power plant operators compare
All occupations (923)
Production (107)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $102,040 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 29,320 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -5.1% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Run start and shutdown sequences on turbines and generators
- Read and trend SCADA alarms and process data
- Maintain equipment records and work orders in SAP software
- Make minor repairs on glands, pipe joints, and valves
- Collect oil, water, and electrolyte samples for lab analysis
- Review AI-drafted logs and reports in Microsoft Excel
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about power plant operators and AI
Will AI replace power plant operators?
Partly. About 3 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly logging operational data and preparing compliance, operational, and safety reports. Starting and stopping equipment, valve sequencing, and maintenance stay with operators because they need a person physically at the machine.
Which power plant operator tasks is AI taking over?
Recording and compiling operational data scores 75 on exposure and is the most automatable task, since AI can fill logs and assemble reports from SCADA readings. Preparing compliance, operational, and safety forms also scores 75 because the templates are fixed. Verifying well field monitoring data against regulations, at 65, is largely automatable.
Which power plant operator tasks stay human?
Repairing or replacing gas piping, at exposure 3, stays with people because it is skilled physical trade work. Tightening leaking glands and pipe joints, at exposure 4, needs someone physically present at the equipment. Starting and stopping generators and turbines, at exposure 10, is physical and procedural work done on site.
How can power plant operators stay valuable?
Shift from writing logs to checking AI-drafted logs in Microsoft Excel and SAP, matching each figure against SCADA trends. Keep hands-on skills sharp in valve sequencing, oil and electrolyte sampling, and generator start-up, work that needs a person at the machine. Lead outage calls and staffing requests during emergencies, since that depends on knowing the crew and the plant.
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Next steps for power plant operators
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