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Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $106,730/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$72,440$154,270

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -3.2% projected growth, 20242034 — declining.

About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringActive ListeningSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingOperations MonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingWritingOperation and Control
Top knowledge areas
English LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsTelecommunicationsEngineering and TechnologyCustomer and Personal ServiceMechanical
Core tasks

Coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.

Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.

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 machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.

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.

Manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.

Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.

Monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Power Distributors and Dispatchers?

The median pay for Power Distributors and Dispatchers is $106,730 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Power Distributors and Dispatchers?

Employment for Power Distributors and Dispatchers is projected to change -3.2% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Power Distributors and Dispatchers?

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

How many job openings are there each year for Power Distributors and Dispatchers?

About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.