Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Power Distributors And Dispatchers
Power Distributors And Dispatchers coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Table of contents
What they do
Power Distributors And Dispatchers coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
- Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
- Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
- Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
- Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machineries, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Power Distributors and Dispatchers monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly. They control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
A typical day for a Power Distributor and Dispatcher will also include:
- Inspect equipment to ensure that specifications are met or to detect any defects.
- Distribute or regulate the flow of power between entities, such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, or users, keeping track of the status of circuits or connections.
- Record and compile operational data, such as chart or meter readings, power demands, or usage and operating times, using transmission system maps.
- Repair, maintain, or clean equipment or machinery, using hand tools.
- Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machineries, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Power Distributors and Dispatchers also repair, maintain, or clean equipment or machinery, using hand tools. They may also respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Power Distributors and Dispatchers calculate load estimates or equipment requirements to determine required control settings. They might also prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
In addition, they coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them implement energy schedules, including real-time transmission reservations or schedules.
To some Power Distributors and Dispatchers, it is also their responsibility to manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
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 to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Demand for this career is not growing.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Power Distributors And Dispatchers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $58,450 to $75,850 per year or $28 to $36 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $129,010 | $62 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $109,260 | $53 |
| Median | $95,100 | $46 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $75,850 | $36 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $58,450 | $28 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Power Distributors And Dispatchers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | $106230 | $51.07 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $105650 | $50.80 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $98850 | $47.52 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $92750 | $44.59 |
| Local Government | $85660 | $41.18 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $74200 | $35.67 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $65210 | $31.35 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Power Distributors And Dispatchers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Power Distributors And Dispatchers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 6320 | $92750 | $44.59 |
| Local Government | 1080 | $85660 | $41.18 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 750 | $106230 | $51.07 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 700 | $105650 | $50.80 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 500 | $98850 | $47.52 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 190 | $74200 | $35.67 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 110 | $65210 | $31.35 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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 working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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