Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators

ANZSCO ID 3992

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
11,000
Future Growth
4.7%
Weekly Earnings
$2,848
Full-Time Share
94%
Female Share
4%
Average age
45

Summary

Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Generation Plant Operators control the operation of chemical production equipment, pump gas and oil from wellheads, refine and process petroleum products, and operate boilers, turbogenerators and associated plant to generate electrical power.

Tasks

  • controlling equipment performing continuous and batch processes to process chemicals and natural gas, manufacture refined petroleum products, and blend petroleum base stocks to produce commercial fuels, lubricating oils and asphalt

  • controlling the preparation, measuring and feeding of raw material and processing agents such as catalysts and filtering media into plant

  • patrolling and inspecting equipment to ensure proper operation and setting operating controls on equipment

  • analysing samples and readings and recording test data

  • controlling records of production, quantities transferred and details of blending and pumping operations

  • checking equipment for malfunctions and arranging maintenance

  • operating power generation plant controls to produce required load

  • monitoring operation of power generation plant and interpreting instrument readings

  • authorising procedures to isolate high-voltage and low-voltage electrical apparatus and plant

  • writing reports and maintaining records on equipment performance, instrument readings and switching operations

  • carrying out routine operating tests

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow moderately
  • is likely to reach 9,900 by 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
4.7%
(or 400 jobs)
From
9,400
in 2021
To
9,900
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 10,100
2012 9,500
2013 9,300
2014 8,300
2015 11,100
2016 8,900
2017 13,600
2018 7,900
2019 8,400
2020 11,100
2021 9,400
2026 9,900

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 95% of people employed as Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 29 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 51 hours per week in their main job. This is 7 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).

    Median full-time earnings are $2,848 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,992
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $3,834

    Median hourly earnings are $70, this is much more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 2,848 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
39.1%
2
Mining
37.9%
3
Manufacturing
21.8%
4
Construction
1.1%
5
Other industries
1.1%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

17.8% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

22.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

24.2% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.2% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

23.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.5% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

3.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators All Jobs Average
NSW 17.8 31.6
VIC 22.3 25.6
QLD 24.2 20.0
SA 7.2 7.0
WA 23.7 10.8
TAS 1.5 2.0
NT 3.0 1.0
ACT 0.1 1.9


  • Around 56% of Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Western Australia and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
45
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
4%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Plant Operators is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 4% of the workforce. This is 44 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators All Jobs Average
15-19 0.2 5.0
20-24 1.8 9.3
25-34 17.8 22.9
35-44 27.2 22.0
45-54 31.3 21.6
55-59 13.3 9.0
60-64 6.4 6.0
65 and Over 1.8 4.2
Median Age 45 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Chemical, Gas, Petroleum or Power Generation Plant Operator. Although most workers have a certificate III or IV in process plant operations or another related field.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Resources and Infrastructure Industry, Gas Industry, National Water Industry, Chemical, Hydrocarbons & Refining, Electricity Supply Industry - Generation Sector VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 1.9 10.1
Bachelor degree 7.1 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 14.4 11.6
Certificate III/IV 53.5 21.1
Year 12 9.8 18.1
Year 11 3.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 9.7 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Boat Builders and Shipwrights who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 57%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 54%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 52%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 48%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 46%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 45%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 45%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 45%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 45%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 45%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 43%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 43%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 43%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 43%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 43%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 41%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 39%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 39%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 34%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 32%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 48%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 44%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 42%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 42%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 41%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 40%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 38%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 35%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 34%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 32%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 32%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 30%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 23%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 21%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 20%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 19%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 18%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 17%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 17%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 13%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 57%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 55%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 52%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 52%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 52%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 50%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 48%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 46%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 46%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 45%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 45%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.

  • 43%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 43%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 41%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 76%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 70%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 67%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 66%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 66%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 63%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 62%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 59%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 59%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 58%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 57%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 55%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 55%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 54%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 53%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 53%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 52%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 47%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 45%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 43%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 90%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 62%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 33%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 29%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 81%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 71%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 52%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 50%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 48%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 38%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 98%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 96%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 94%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 93%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 90%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 90%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 90%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 88%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 87%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 87%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 86%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 85%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 85%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 83%

    Work at heights

    Work in high places (e.g., on poles, scaffolding, catwalks, or ladders).

  • 82%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 82%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 81%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 81%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 78%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-8013.00 - Power Plant Operators.


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