# Biomass Plant Technicians

> Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-8013.03
- **Summary:** Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.

## Aliases

- Auxiliary Operator
- Fuel Handler
- Operations Technician (Operations Tech)
- Plant Operator
- Central Heating Plant Operator
- Fuel Quality Technician (Fuel Quality Tech)
- Heating Plant Operator
- Plant Technician
- Steam Plant Operator
- Biomass Boiler Operator
- Biomass Plant Operator
- Biomass Plant Technician

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Calculate, measure, load, or mix biomass feedstock for power generation. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Clean work areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Perform routine maintenance or make minor repairs to mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment in biomass plants. | Core | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Measure and monitor raw biomass feedstock, including wood, waste, or refuse materials. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Measure stock or liquid levels in sustainable fuel production systems. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Operate pumping systems or equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Operate biomass or biofuel production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.g |
| Maintain sustainable energy production equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Evaluate quality of materials or products. | 4.A.2.a.1.e |
| Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Calculate specific material, equipment, or labor requirements for production. | 4.A.2.b.1.h |
| Load materials into production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Inspect sustainable energy production facilities or equipment. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Prepare biological feedstock for physical, chemical, or biological processing. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Clean work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. | 4.A.4.c.3.a |
| Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Test materials, solutions, or samples. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 4 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.92 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.75 |
| Chemistry | knowledge | 3.44 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.38 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.28 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.27 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.25 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.25 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.25 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.25 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.25 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 3.13 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.12 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3.12 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.12 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | ability | 3.12 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.09 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.03 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3 |
| Learning Strategies | essential_skill | 3 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Industrial Control Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Distributed control system DCS | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Energy analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Inventory control software | Inventory management software | no | no |
| National Instruments LabVIEW | Development environment software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.96 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.8 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.76 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.72 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.67 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.64 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.48 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.46 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.45 |
| Exposed to High Places | 4.42 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.33 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 4.29 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.28 |
| Contact With Others | 4.27 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 4.24 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 4.23 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.23 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 4.2 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.11 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.1 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.08 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 4.01 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 3.96 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.94 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.78 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 3.67 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.59 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.57 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 3.52 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 3.46 |
| Time Pressure | 3.46 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.34 |
| Degree of Automation | 3.29 |
| E-Mail | 3.24 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.05 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.95 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.92 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.89 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 2.86 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 2.84 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 46.51 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 21.85 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 9.72 |
| Some College Courses | 9.54 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6.56 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.82 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.97 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.82 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 3.12 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 1.75 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 1.22 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 1 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 11-3051.04 | role-11-3051-04 | Biomass Power Plant Managers | Primary-Short |
| 51-8099.01 | role-51-8099-01 | Biofuels Processing Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 51-8013.00 | role-51-8013-00 | Power Plant Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-8021.00 | role-51-8021-00 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-8031.00 | role-51-8031-00 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-8092.00 | role-51-8092-00 | Gas Plant Operators | Primary-Long |
| 51-8013.04 | role-51-8013-04 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 51-8091.00 | role-51-8091-00 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | Primary-Long |
| 49-9099.01 | role-49-9099-01 | Geothermal Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 11-3051.03 | role-11-3051-03 | Biofuels Production Managers | Primary-Long |
| 11-3051.02 | role-11-3051-02 | Geothermal Production Managers | Supplemental |
| 53-7071.00 | role-53-7071-00 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Energy & Natural Resources | energy-natural-resources |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | engineering-engineering-related-technologies-technicians |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 99670
- **Mean Wage:** 95990
- **Pct10Wage:** 59930
- **Pct25Wage:** 77400
- **Pct75Wage:** 111980
- **Pct90Wage:** 128760
- **Employment:** 30720
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 21490 | 102950 | 186.15 |
| 221112 | 221112 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | National industry | 11860 | 103640 | 834.99 |
| 221111 | 221111 | Hydroelectric Power Generation | National industry | 1620 | 95150 | 1188.73 |
| 221117 | 221117 | Biomass Electric Power Generation | National industry | 950 | 63470 | 2591.38 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 950 | 77560 | 0.53 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 770 | 71470 | 0.3 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 770 | 61960 | 0.28 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 730 | 78530 | 0.34 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 590 | 78530 | 2.56 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 460 | 64370 | 0.1 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 420 | 107870 | 0.75 |
| 221115 | 221115 | Wind Electric Power Generation | National industry | 410 | 75600 | 207.23 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 221117 | 221117 | Biomass Electric Power Generation | National industry | 950 | 2591.38 |
| 221116 | 221116 | Geothermal Electric Power Generation | National industry | 300 | 2247.35 |
| 221111 | 221111 | Hydroelectric Power Generation | National industry | 1620 | 1188.73 |
| 221112 | 221112 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | National industry | 11860 | 834.99 |
| 221118 | 221118 | Other Electric Power Generation | National industry | 250 | 359.53 |
| 221115 | 221115 | Wind Electric Power Generation | National industry | 410 | 207.23 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 21490 | 186.15 |
| 221114 | 221114 | Solar Electric Power Generation | National industry | 230 | 82.75 |
- **Count:** 19

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.85 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.3482779 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.1809246 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.4411169 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 27
- **Percentile:** 25
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 39 | felten_aioe |
| 25 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 17 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.3482779 | 39 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.20588235294117646 | 25 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.0655066316400932 | 17 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.85
- **Percentile:** 71
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.058823529411764705
- **Beta:** 0.1323529411764706
- **Gamma:** 0.20588235294117646

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calibrate liquid flow devices or meters, including fuel, chemical, and water meters. | 0.0018487401862708444 | 3.88 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -11.2
- **Growth Percentile:** 5
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 2.5
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 33
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 31.6
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 28

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 18
- **Skills:** 35
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 8
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 08739f49fd3b7933