The public utilities industry includes the management of infrastructures of public services as well as the distribution of those services. The federal government, through its departments, is the largest employer of the public utilities workforce. According to the latest report, the current number of employees in the US in public utilities is 675,775.
Jobs in public utilities include maintenance, construction, repair, management, cleaning and more. The average pay for jobs in public utilities is $52,000 – 82,000 per year.
Jobs in the Public Utilities with their Salary
Public utilities jobs include a variety of positions in the electricity industry, gas industry, water industry and telecommunications industry. It basically ensures the vital utilitarian goods and services we need on a day-to-day basis are delivered to us. All these industries when taken at a national scale are massive industries and it is obvious that all types and levels of workers of varying qualifications and experiences are employed in each of those. As a result, the pay grade varies according to the responsibilities. For instance, let’s look at some of the jobs in public utilities.
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Public Utility Planner
A public utility planner is one who plans and coordinates the production and distribution of public utilities in a large scale. As a public utility planner, you should be highly qualified in planning in collaboration with governmental bodies, utility companies and developers to make sure that the public is provided with the utilities that they need. The average salary of a public utility planner is about $85,000.
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Utility Manager
The utility manager of a specific facility (for example water treatment, electric power plants, etc) is responsible for overseeing the overall operations of the particular facility and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. It is a high-level position with an average salary of $74,000 per year.
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Electrical Engineer
Engineers are one of the major employees in the public utilities industry. Electrical engineers are especially in high demand in the electricity generation and distribution sectors. They get a handsome salary that averages at about $84,000.
In other industries like the telecommunications industry and water treatment facilities, engineers specializing in these field can expect a similar pay scale.
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Wind Turbine Technician
The job title of a wind turbine technician is a very specialized job that might have a limited number of potential employees, but there are many other technician job positions across the public utilities industry like valve technicians, repair technicians of specific machines, etc. The average salary of a wind turbine technician is about $50,000.
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Utility Worker
The job of a utility worker includes cleaning, maintaining, and securing the buildings, grounds, equipment, and infrastructures. Landscaping and repairing also come under his/her duty according to the workplace. A utility worker gets an average salary of $31,000 with little experience as well.
The above-listed job titles are only representatives of the wide range of jobs and their salaries in public utilities, starting from the high-paid managerial and specialist positions to the modestly paid technicians and maintenance positions. Other jobs in this industry include Safety officer, public utilities analyst, utilities installer, solar panel installer, plumbers, plant operator, equipment operator, power lineman, pipeline controller, power system dispatcher, etc.
Factors Affecting Salaries of Public Utilities Positions.
The salaries in public utilities depend not only on the job titles but also on several different factors, mainly experience level, education, location, and specialization required.
- Experience: It is obvious that experience affects the compensation you receive in return for your services and expertise. In public utilities, experience plays a much bigger role since gaining experience opens new opportunities for you although you might not have the academic qualification for it. This is because the employers prefer someone who is familiar with the technicalities of running the utilities plants and operations.
- Education: As is clear from the list of jobs mentioned above with their pay scale, education allows you to secure a high=paying job in the managerial or specialist section. For instance, an engineering degree in the relevant sector like electricity, communication, etc. will land you a high-paying job. But the utilities sector has something to offer for everyone. So even if you lack the formal qualifications, skills are highly sought after in the utilities sector.
- Location: California, New Hampshire, Connecticut, etc. have a de-regulated utility-market. As a result, you can expect better salaries if you are employed in utilities companies in these states since they are faced with competitors.
- Specialization Required: The level of specialization of skills required for your job in the utilities sector determines your salary. For example, a powerline man requires a very specific and unique set of skills like balance, bravado, electrical knowledge, etc. which can be hard to find in most people. As a result, he/she will be granted better pay with higher benefits than a utility worker who has a general skillset requirement.
Public Utilities Job Salaries in the Futures
The number of people employed in the public utilities sector in the US during 2017-2022 increased by 0.5%. As the population continues to rise and with it the demand for utilities, the number is expected to increase in the following years. However, the utilities sector is largely dependent on technology and as technology is evolving rapidly, the utilities sector is going through several changes which affect the jobs and their salaries.
One such example is the rise of the renewable energy utilities industry. Renewable Energy plants like wind and solar plants are increasing in number and so are demands for skilled manpower to operate those plants efficiently.
Conclusion
Public utilities jobs are safe, secure, and rewarding options that offer good salaries. Since public utilities industry offers a chance to grow, entering the industry at an entry level is also highly recommended. Another benefit of the utilities sector is the vast array of jobs it provides. So, anyone with any level of required skillset, qualifications and experience looking to get into the sector is highly likely to get themselves a matching job. All you need to do now is to choose the potential career path in public utilities that is best for you, and research the job listings in the public utilities sector.
