OSCA occupation

399133 Power Generation Plant Operator

Operates, controls, maintains and monitors machines and associated plant equipment used to generate electrical power, including power generated from renewable energy such as solar, wind power and hydropower.

Major group: 3 Technicians and Trades Workers
Unit group: 3991 Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Generation Plant Technicians
Edition: OSCA 2024
Skill level: Level 3

Should you use OSCA or ANZSCO?

OSCA 2024 is the current Australian occupation classification for storing, organising and reporting occupation information. Use this OSCA record for current Australian statistical and analytical classification work.

Some migration and administrative programs still specify ANZSCO 2022. Check the exact system named by the agency or form rather than replacing the code automatically.

Check the current ABS guidance on OSCA and ANZSCO use

Official ANZSCO correspondence

ANZSCO 399213 Power Generation Plant Operator Exact correspondence in the ABS table

Role overview

Use this page to confirm the official title, the parent unit group, the task list and the related ANZSIC industry context before using the occupation in classification, reporting or migration-adjacent workflows.

Occupation facts

Skill level: 3
Major group: 3 Technicians and Trades Workers
Sub-major group: 39 Other Technicians and Trades Workers
Minor group: 399 Miscellaneous Technicians and Trades Workers
Unit group: 3991 Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Generation Plant Technicians

Tasks

Operates, controls and monitors machines and plant equipment used to generate electrical power, including power generated from renewable energy
Adjusts controls to regulate the flow of fuel, air and water to maintain specified temperature, pressure and water levels
Starts and stops generators, turbines and auxiliary equipment
Monitors and records readings from meters, gauges and instruments
Inspects and maintains equipment, and identifies and reports any faults or malfunctions
Responds to alarms and emergencies, taking appropriate action to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the plant
Monitors and controls the quality of power generated, ensuring it meets specified standards
Coordinates activities and resolves issues in collaboration with other plant operators and maintenance staff
Keeps records of plant operations, including production levels, maintenance activities and equipment performance

Skill level guidance

Skill level helps place the occupation inside the ABS hierarchy. Use it as a classification cue, then check the actual task list and occupational context before making a decision for HR, visa or reporting work.

How to use this occupation page

Start with the official OSCA title and task list. Then confirm the parent unit group and compare the related occupations on this page if the job title is broad, overlapping or used differently across employers.

The ANZSIC links are there to help when the same occupation appears across several industries and you need the business-side classification as well.

Related occupations

Industry context

Alternative titles

Power Plant Operator
Power Station Operator

Compare before choosing

Compare OSCA 399133 with related occupations

Compare roles in the same OSCA unit group by their official definition, skill level, tasks and recognised alternative titles.

Comparison point	Current code399133 Power Generation Plant Operator	399131 Chemical Plant Operator	399132 Gas or Petroleum Production Technician
Official role definition	Operates, controls, maintains and monitors machines and associated plant equipment used to generate electrical power, including power generated from renewable energy such as solar, wind power and hydropower.	Controls the operation of chemical production plant.	Monitors and controls equipment to pump oil and gas from wellheads, and refine and process petroleum products.
Skill level	Skill Level 3	Skill Level 3	Skill Level 3
Key tasks	Operates, controls and monitors machines and plant equipment used to generate electrical power, including power generated from renewable energy Adjusts controls to regulate the flow of fuel, air and water to maintain specified temperature, pressure and water levels Starts and stops generators, turbines and auxiliary equipment Monitors and records readings from meters, gauges and instruments	Monitors and controls the operation of chemical production plant Adjusts equipment and controls to maintain specified operating conditions and product quality within chemical processing plants Inspects and tests samples of raw materials and finished products to ensure compliance with quality standards Performs routine maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment and machinery	Monitors and controls equipment to pump oil and gas from wellheads Operates refining and processing equipment to produce petroleum products Monitors and adjusts process variables such as temperature, pressure and flow rates Collects and analyses samples of oil and gas for testing
Alternative titles	Power Plant Operator Power Station Operator	Chemical Plant Technician Process Operator (Chemical) Process Technician (Chemical)	Gas or Petroleum Plant Operator Process Operator (Gas or Petroleum) Process Technician (Gas or Petroleum)

Comparison uses occupation definitions, skill levels, tasks and title variants from the ABS OSCA data files.

In this section

399131Chemical Plant Operator
399132Gas or Petroleum Production Technician
399133Power Generation Plant Operator

Official source

Official source: ABS OSCA 2024 release and correspondence tables
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17

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