Energy and Chemical Plant Operator

Kaiwhakahaere Rawa Pūngao, Rawa Matū

Energy and chemical plant operators monitor, control and maintain machinery and equipment at industrial sites such as power stations.

Learn about this job

Secondary education
Useful experience
What you will do
Skills and knowledge
Entry requirements
Chances of getting a job
Find out more about training
Career progression and specialisations
Working conditions
Physical requirements
Useful personal qualities
Industry
Similar jobs in the industry

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become an energy and chemical plant operator. However, maths, physics, chemistry and digital technologies/computing may be useful.

Study fields

Plant and Machine Operations

Study levels

Up to NCEA Level 3
Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for energy and chemical plant operators includes:

trades work
work involving technical instructions
factory or manufacturing plant work.

What you will do

Energy and chemical plant operators may do some or all of the following:

run processes that produce power, fuel or processed chemical products
check, adjust and maintain plant equipment and report faults or problems
follow standard operating procedures and health and safety guidelines
interpret digital and analogue displays on equipment to keep detailed records of plant operations
take samples of products or wastes for laboratory testing.

Skills and knowledge

Energy and chemical plant operators need to have:

ability to interpret digital and analogue displays to understand how equipment is functioning
an understanding of how machines work and how to operate them
an understanding of safety regulations and processes.

Pay

New energy and chemical plant operators usually earn

$70K-$80K

per year

Energy and chemical plant operators with five or more years' experience usually earn

$80K-$180K

per year

Job opportunities

Average

Chances of getting a job as an energy and chemical plant operator are average for those wanting to enter the role, but good for those with experience.

Industry

Infrastructure

Energy and chemical plant operators monitor, control and maintain machinery and equipment at industrial sites such as power stations.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

There are no specific requirements to become an energy and chemical plant operator. However, some positions may require you to have, or be working towards a New Zealand Certificate in Energy and Chemical Operations (Level 3), or one of several micro-credentials.

Energy and chemical plant operators usually learn skills on the job and employers may help them to gain a qualification.

Primary ITO oversees energy and chemical operations qualifications.

Primary ITO website - energy and chemical operations qualifications

Chances of getting a job

Opportunities best for experienced energy and chemical plant operators

Demand for energy and chemical plant operators is good due to:

a number of them retiring – 35% of energy and chemical plant operators are 55 or older
the occupation growing – employment in the chemicals, plastics and refining sector grew by 11% between 2013 and 2018
reasonably high turnover.

Employers report difficulty finding skilled workers, so your chances of getting a job are best if you have experience as an energy and chemical plant operator. Employers may also consider you if you have experience in an industry, such as construction, that uses similar skills.

According to the Census, 1,680 energy and chemical plant operators worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Energy and chemical plant operators may work for:

oil and gas companies
power plants
chemical, fertiliser, or pulp and paper manufacturers.

Find out more about training

Primary ITO: 0800 20 80 20 - info@primaryito.ac.nz - www.primaryito.ac.nz

Progression and specialisations

With experience and on-the-job training, energy and chemical plant operators may progress to work:

on different kinds of processes
as supervisors or managers.

With further training, they may also specialise in the role of:

Panel Operator: Panel operators control a plant's production centrally by interpreting data from banks of screens in a control room, and communicating with supervisors and other operators.

Working conditions

Energy and chemical plant operators:

usually do shift work, including evenings, nights and weekends
may work indoors at plants and factories, or outdoors at gas plants, oil rigs and renewable energy plants
work in most weather conditions and in noisy, hot, smelly or hazardous conditions.

Physical Requirements

Energy and chemical plant operators need to be reasonably fit, healthy and strong as they lift materials and operate heavy equipment.

Useful personal qualities

Energy and chemical plant operators need to be:

efficient
accurate, with an eye for detail
able to follow instructions
safety-conscious
able to identify and solve problems.

Industry

Infrastructure

Energy and chemical plant operators monitor, control and maintain machinery and equipment at industrial sites such as power stations.

Future You

Explore careers