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  5. Power Engineers and Power Systems Operators

Exploring Trades and Occupations

Power Engineers and Power Systems Operators

On this page

  • Job description
  • Advancement and mobility
  • Hourly wage
  • Job prospects for 2022-2026
  • Sectors of activity
  • Training and requirements
  • Main skills and characteristics
  • Personality profiles (RIASEC)
  • Additional information

Job description

Power Engineers operate and maintain stationary machines that supply energy to buildings.

Power System Operators control the distribution of electrical energy. They monitor the proper operation of equipment.

Environment

  • Controlled ambient temperature
  • Uncontrolled ambient temperature
  • Electricity

Main tasks

Power Engineers

  • Operate systems to generate electricity for lighting, heating, ventilating, and cooling buildings.
  • Start and stop equipment.
  • Collaborate with Systems Operators.
  • Inspect equipment to ensure proper operation and identify faults.
  • Record and analyze data.
  • Investigate the cause of problems, take corrective measures, and make minor repairs to avoid breakdowns.
  • Maintain generators, turbines, pumps, and compressors.
  • Maintain records of operational, safety, and maintenance activities.
  • Draft reports.
  • Participate in the development of operating, maintenance, and safety procedures, as required.

Power Systems Operators

  • Control the distribution of electricity and regulate the flow in the transmission grid.
  • Coordinate and direct the transmission of electricity and line voltage to meet distribution demands.
  • Monitor and inspect devices.
  • Issue work and test permits to maintenance personnel.
  • Assist in locating and isolating system problems.
  • Complete and update plant records, logs, and reports.

Advancement and mobility

  • Experience and additional training lead Power Engineers to senior positions.
  • Experience leads to supervisory positions.

Hourly wage

The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2019 to 2021.
Minimum
$20.20
Median
$29.63
Maximum
$51.00

Job prospects for 2022-2026

sr.comparaison-region.titre

Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.

Job prospects for 2022-2026

Job prospects

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Very good

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available

Total jobs for 2021

All of Québec

4,000

All of Québec

na

Gender distribution

All of Québec

Not available.
5.9% Female
94.1% Male

Not available.
  • 5.9% Female
  • 94.1% Male

Job types

All of Québec

Not available.
Full time
Part time

Not available.
  • Full time
  • Part time

Yearly wage on 2015

All of Québec

$71,000

All of Québec

Other characteristics

All of Québec

  • Non traditional for women
  • None

All of Québec

  • Non traditional for women
  • None

Sectors of activity

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Utilities
    NAICS 22
    22% of jobs
  2. Paper Manufacturing
    NAICS 322
    12% of jobs
  3. Health Care
    NAICS 621, 622, 623
    7% of jobs
  4. Wood Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 321
    6% of jobs
  5. Food, Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 311, 312
    5% of jobs
  6. Others
    48% of jobs

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Utilities
    NAICS 22
    22% of jobs
  2. Paper Manufacturing
    NAICS 322
    12% of jobs
  3. Health Care
    NAICS 621, 622, 623
    7% of jobs
  4. Wood Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 321
    6% of jobs
  5. Food, Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 311, 312
    5% of jobs
  6. Others
    48% of jobs