AI JOB SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 51-8013.00 / model V14 rated-task + local-market engine

Will AI replace
Power Plant Operators?

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

Estimated AI task exposure
20%

Low-Moderate exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

22 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 73%.

Digital/info work

33/100

Physical moat

61/100

Human moat

15/100

Rating coverage

73%

30 task statements / 22 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
Importance 88/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 80/100Weight 0.91
Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
Importance 88/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 77/100Weight 0.90
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.
Importance 86/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 79/100Weight 0.89
Regulate equipment operations and conditions, such as water levels, based on instrument data or from computers.
Importance 85/100Relevance 99/100Frequency 78/100Weight 0.89
Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
Importance 89/100Relevance 92/100Frequency 82/100Weight 0.89
Open and close valves and switches in sequence to start or shut down auxiliary units.
Importance 86/100Relevance 99/100Frequency 72/100Weight 0.87
Inspect records or log book entries or communicate with plant personnel to assess equipment operating status.
Importance 84/100Relevance 86/100Frequency 76/100Weight 0.83
Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
Importance 89/100Relevance 82/100Frequency 70/100Weight 0.82
Operate or maintain distributed power generation equipment, including fuel cells or microturbines, to produce energy on-site for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.
Importance 88/100Relevance 79/100Frequency 75/100Weight 0.81
Record and compile operational data by completing and maintaining forms, logs, or reports.
Importance 78/100Relevance 87/100Frequency 74/100Weight 0.80

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$102,040

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

29,320

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

-5.1%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

2

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

CHECK PAY WHERE YOU LIVE

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Helpers--Extraction Workers

5%

15 points lower exposure • 90% profile similarity

Median wage: $47,730 Growth 2025–2035: +1.7% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

5%

15 points lower exposure • 91% profile similarity

Median wage: $65,510 Growth 2025–2035: +6.7% Annual openings: 15

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

5%

15 points lower exposure • 89% profile similarity

Median wage: $56,210 Growth 2025–2035: +4.4% Annual openings: 1

stronger human/judgment moat, more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

6%

14 points lower exposure • 91% profile similarity

Median wage: $58,870 Growth 2025–2035: +2.8% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Home Appliance Repairers

5%

15 points lower exposure • 91% profile similarity

Median wage: $50,990 Growth 2025–2035: +1.9% Annual openings: 3

more physical-world work, lower AI leverage
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

5%

15 points lower exposure • 90% profile similarity

Median wage: $64,120 Growth 2025–2035: +29.5% Annual openings: 2

more physical-world work

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

    AUGMENT

    • administrative support tasks
    • planning and documentation

    PROTECT

    • physical-world execution
    • on-site troubleshooting
    • dexterity and equipment interaction

    LEARN

    • AI-assisted diagnostics
    • digital documentation
    • basic AI literacy

    AI-PROOFING RESOURCES

    What this score does not mean

    The percentage is a comparative task-exposure index. It is not the probability that this occupation disappears, that a worker is laid off, or that AI can perform the entire job.

    New in V11

    Find a Safer Career Path

    High exposure does not mean starting over. V11 compares your occupation with the other 922 O*NET occupations and surfaces lower-exposure options with similar work profiles.

    EXPLORE CAREER ALTERNATIVES
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