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20 Best Paying Jobs In Public Utilities in 2024 | Highest Paying Utility Jobs

Published May 31, 2022 · · Updated June 1, 2024 · 7 minutes · by Kamerpower ·

20 Best Paying Jobs In Public Utilities | Highest Paying Utility Jobs. Are you interested in a career that offers job security, good pay, and a stable work environment? If yes, you may want to consider a career in public utilities. The best Utility jobs can pay up to $145,500 per year.

A utility worker performs general maintenance tasks, often for a public space or a plant that oversees a public utility, like power or water. These positions usually require physical labor and lifting, and depending on the industry may include the operation of specialized equipment or vehicles.

Typical duties involve cleaning facilities, repairing and maintaining equipment, and more. Alternatively, a food service utility worker helps with basic restaurant operations.

A food service utility worker assists with a variety of tasks in a kitchen or restaurant. While they do not typically cook food, common job duties include things like slicing meat, chopping vegetables, brewing coffee, grounds keeping, and equipment maintenance.

The Best High Paying Utility Jobs

Power Plant Engineer.
Power System Dispatcher.
Radiation Engineer
Pipeline Controller
Substation Engineer.
Utilities Manager
Power Systems Engineer.
Transmission Engineer.
Power Lineman
Substation Operator
Radiation Safety Officer.
Water Resource Engineer
Power Plant Operators.
Energy Efficiency Engineer.

What is Public Utilities?

Public utilities are those services which are essential to the daily lives of people living in a community. This includes water, electricity, gas, and sewage. Public utilities also include transportation services such as buses and trains. For example, electricians and plumbers are two occupations that most people are familiar with. These workers make sure that the water and electricity in our homes are running properly.

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What are the Highest Paying Public Utility Jobs?

1. Renewable Energy Managers

Public utilities are increasingly turning to renewable energy sources to power our homes and businesses. This has created a demand for renewable energy managers, who are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to harness solar, wind, water, and other sustainable resources. These professionals typically have a background in engineering or environmental science, and many have advanced degrees.

2. Pipeline Inspectors

Pipeline inspectors are responsible for ensuring the safety and proper functioning of pipelines. They inspect pipelines for leaks, corrosion, and other potential problems. Pipeline inspectors typically have a high school diploma or equivalent, and some employers may require certification from the American Petroleum Institute (API).

3. Electric Power Plant Managers

Electric power plant managers are responsible for the overall operation of an electric power plant. They typically have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and several years of experience working in the electric power industry. The average salary for an electric power plant manager is $94,790.

4. Natural Gas Distribution Managers

Natural gas distribution managers coordinate the distribution of natural gas within a specific geographical area for a utility company. They develop and implement plans to ensure that the gas is distributed efficiently and safely, and they also monitor gas usage and prices.

5. Water Engineer

Water engineers are responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of water supply and wastewater treatment facilities. They may also be involved in the planning and management of water resources. Water engineers typically have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field.

6. Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

Hydroelectric plants harness the energy of moving water to generate electricity, and hydroelectric plant technicians are responsible for keeping these plants running smoothly. They may perform maintenance tasks, such as fixing leaks or replacing worn parts, or they may operate the plant’s control systems. Hydroelectric plant technicians earn a median salary of $100,340 per year.

7. Energy Auditor

An energy auditor is responsible for identifying opportunities to improve the efficiency of an organization’s energy use. This may involve conducting audits, developing and implementing energy conservation plans, and working with other members of the organization to ensure that energy-saving measures are adopted. Energy auditors may work in a variety of settings, including private businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

8. Wind Farm Managers

Wind farm managers are responsible for the overall operation and maintenance of a wind farm. They typically work for utility companies or independent power producers, and may oversee a team of technicians.

9. Hydroelectric Power Plant Operators

Hydroelectric power plant operators are responsible for operating and maintaining hydroelectric power plants. They typically work at plant locations and may be required to travel to remote locations. Hydroelectric power plant operators must have a strong understanding of mechanical and electrical systems.

10. Nuclear Licensing Engineer

As a nuclear licensing engineer, your responsibilities include providing licensing and regulatory support for a nuclear energy plant, ensuring systems and equipment are performing as expected. You work closely with regulatory personnel and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to implement new codes and keep the company within regulatory standards.

11. Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer

As a nuclear criticality safety engineer, your responsibilities include conducting research and evaluating methods of transportation, handling, and storage of nuclear fuel to prevent an accident such as a nuclear reaction. You study and review research on nuclear fuel characteristics and calculation documents, as well as conduct an analysis of fuel transfer and storage plans provided by nuclear plants.

12. Radiation Engineer

The duties of a radiation engineer are to conduct experiments that test and evaluate radiation effects in a variety of settings. Their responsibilities include providing theoretical analysis based on a test they perform in an experimental environment.

13. Gas Controller

The duties of a gas controller include operating pipelines to ensure customers receive proper gas or oil flow requirements. As a gas controller, you work with gas and oil companies to ensure major problems do not occur, monitor live pipeline pressure data, and identify and respond to abnormal flow volume and emergency readings. You adjust settings in gas chambers like temperature, pressure, and flow rate.

14. Utilities Manager

Public utility managers audit operations to ensure that they provide utilities to residents and businesses at the lowest possible cost. As a utilities manager, you oversee facilities that provide necessary services to residents in a city, town, or region, such as water treatment facilities, electrical plants, and telecommunications organizations.

15. Power Transmission Engineer

The main responsibilities of a power transmission engineer revolve around planning routes for energy transmission. In this career, you play a pivotal part in the power system’s infrastructure. Your duties are to survey maps and GIS data to estimate the best path of transmission lines from the energy source (e.g. power plant) to the end user (e.g. home, building, street light, etc.).

16. Substation Engineer

Substation engineers create design plans for power substations and collaborate with the project team and other stakeholders to finalize schematics. As a substation engineer, your job duties include generating design drawings and documents, determining the appropriate size and type of cables and conduits for each substation, facilitating tasks using engineering application software, and coordinating efforts with team members.

17. Pipeline Controller

As a pipeline controller, you monitor and control the operations of pipeline systems. You monitor pipelines for leaks, ensure the continued flow of liquid natural gas or oil, coordinate emergency responses when problems are detected, and maintain a record of noteworthy events. Pipeline controllers frequently use established processes and procedures to manage systems, help optimize power usage, communicate with customers, and provide training to new hires.

18. Power Distribution Engineer

As a power distribution engineer, your primary responsibilities involve the design and maintenance of electrical distribution systems. Your duties include developing site electrical procedures, providing technical guidance for wiring systems, overseeing an electrical system operation from start to finish, ensuring applications meet regulation standards, and providing technical support to various personnel.

19. Power Systems Engineer

A power systems engineer works in the energy industry. In this career, your job is to design, evaluate, and oversee the electrical power distribution system for a utility company or substations, perform electric metering, or work for a wind power company to evaluate transmission viability.

20. Power Lineman

As a power lineman, your job is to support the operations of utilities by installing and maintaining electrical lines. As part of your role, you may do construction work to fix or replace lines, use equipment to reach areas in need of repair, and teach an apprentice how to do the job. You also identify defective elements in a system, inspect and test power lines and related equipment, climb poles and transmission towers, and work in severe weather conditions.