Control the flow of electricity across the grid and coordinate generators, substations, and field crews.
You may also see this posted as: Power System Dispatcher, Power System Operator, Systems Operator, Transmission System Operator (TSO), Control Area Operator, Control Operator.
Secure utility control rooms with continuous monitoring.
Rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
High school / no degree
Training path: High school plus extensive paid utility training.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
Operators complete extensive employer training and may need North American Electric Reliability Corporation certification.
You can earn while you train. This field has a genuinely paid pathway in — an apprenticeship, a paid academy, or employer-funded training — so you draw a paycheck instead of taking on debt to learn it.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Balances electricity supply and demand from a control room and coordinates the grid during outages and emergencies.
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Standard Occupational Classification 51-8012. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.