How to become a Biomass Plant Technician

Official title: Biomass Plant Technicians

Also called: Auxiliary Operator, Central Heating Plant Operator, Fuel Handler, Fuel Quality Technician (Fuel Quality Tech), Heating Plant Operator, Operations Technician (Operations Tech), Plant Operator, Plant Technician, Steam Plant Operator

Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.

Main tasks

• Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
• Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
• Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
• Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
• Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
• Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
• Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges.
• Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power.

How to become one

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent to enter the occupation. Once hired, they typically receive extensive on-the-job training. Nuclear power reactor operators also need a license.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $102,040 a year The middle half earn $79,690 to $119,080.
• About 29,800 people work in this job now, and about 28,300 are projected by 2035. (-5.1%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
• Power Distributors and Dispatchers
• Power Plant Operators
• Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Biomass Plant Technician?

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent to enter the occupation. Once hired, they typically receive extensive on-the-job training. Nuclear power reactor operators also need a license.

How much does a Biomass Plant Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $102,040 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $79,690 to $119,080.

Is a Biomass Plant Technician a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 5% by 2035, from about 29,800 to about 28,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Biomass Plant Technician?

Usually not. Only 22% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Biomass Plant Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.