What Does A Biomass Plant Technician Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Biomass Plant Technicians

Biomass Plant Technicians control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.

Salary
$59600
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Biomass Plant Technicians control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.

  • Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
  • Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
  • Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust the production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power.
  • Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Biomass Plant Technicians clean work areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations. They preprocess feedstock to prepare for biochemical or thermochemical production processes.

A typical day for a Biomass Plant Technician will also include:

  • Manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants.
  • Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
  • Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
  • Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
  • Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Biomass Plant Technicians also read and interpret instruction manuals or technical drawings related to biomass-fueled power or biofuels production equipment or processes. They may also perform routine maintenance or make minor repairs to mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment in biomass plants.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Biomass Plant Technicians manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants. They might also calculate, measure, load, or mix biomass feedstock for power generation.

In addition, they preprocess feedstock to prepare for biochemical or thermochemical production processes.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them assess the quality of biomass feedstock.

To some Biomass Plant Technicians, it is also their responsibility to operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want job security and a good working condition.

This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$59600 per year

Average hourly wage

$29 per hour

Entry-level Biomass Plant Technicians with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $35,220 to $45,320 per year or $17 to $22 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $83,810 $40
Senior (Top 25%) $71,270 $34
Median $58,960 $28
Junior (Bottom 25%) $45,320 $22
No experience (Bottom 10%) $35,220 $17

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
46%

More than 40 hours
54%

Working schedule

58%

42%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
11%

Every day
44%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
23%

Every day
44%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
9%

Every day
91%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
67%

Once a year
16%

Once a month
7%

Once a week
0%

Every day
9%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
27%

Slightly competitive
12%

Moderately competitive
52%

Highly competitive
8%

Extremely competitive
1%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
30%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
52%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
9%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
4%

Every day
71%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
1%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
24%

Every day
63%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
7%

Once a year or more
6%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
32%

Every day
48%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
1%

High School Diploma or equivalent
65%

Post-Secondary Certificate
24%

Some College Courses
7%

Associate’s Degree or similar
2%

Bachelor’s Degree
1%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
34%

1 month
1%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
4%

6 months to 1 year
4%

1 to 2 years
20%

2 to 4 years
24%

4 to 6 years
6%

6 to 8 years
1%

8 to 10 years
3%

Over 10 years
3%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
14%

1 to 3 months
19%

3 to 6 months
20%

6 months to 1 year
21%

1 to 2 years
17%

2 to 4 years
2%

4 to 10 years
6%

Over 10 years
1%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
86%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
43%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
19%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
29%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
57%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
52%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
57%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
43%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
38%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
57%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
43%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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