15 Best Paying Jobs In Public Utilities – Best Paying Opportunities

The public utilities sector is essential for today’s infrastructure. It provides crucial services like water, electricity, and gas to millions of people.  

As the demand for sustainable and efficient utility services grows, the need for skilled workers in various roles is increasing.  

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You will have a scope at receiving a high estimated salary up to $161,500 annually. These job opportunities also allow you to grow in your work sector.  

During contemporary times, the demand for these jobs is growing immensely, due to their scope of growth and lucrative salary.  

Written below is a well-researched list that showcases the best paying jobs in public utilities, as well as the estimated salary for each job role. Read on to know more!  

Best Paying Jobs In Public Utilities

Here are some of the best jobs in the public utility sectors you can target with or without a bachelor’s degree (best on roles).

1. Gas Controller

One of the many best paying jobs in public utilities is the role of the gas controller. This job role in public utility allows you to work for different companies in the industry. Some of their job responsibilities include monitoring the pipeline’s data and responding to different data, adjusting temperature, and checking the flow rate.

You do not really need to have a bachelor’s degree or higher educational qualifications. But, you can move higher in the industry with a higher qualification.

Salary Range- around $60,649 per year 

2. Wind Site manager

Wind Farms also require professionals to help oversee if every process is running smoothly. As a result, one of the best paying jobs in public utilities is the role of Wind Site Manager. Many companies in public utilities hire people in the role of wind site managers.

These professionals work to ensure the safety of operations running in different wind farms. They oversee if everything is maintaining the safety regulations and the daily operations at the wind farms. Applicants need storm communication skills and good leadership qualities to work in these stations.

Salary Range- $73,000 to $124,000 per year 

3. Substation Engineer

Substation engineers are responsible for developing the most efficient and capable equipment for electric systems. Running audits and reviewing existing equipment are also their responsibilities. In this role, you will also work alongside electricians and help with the repairs of transformers, electric circuits, etc. You also have to help design support systems as a substation engineer.

This role requires you to have a degree in electrical engineering. Some soft skills, such as innovative thinking and organizational skills, are also needed for working within or across departments.

Salary Range- $73,000 to $124,000 per year 

4. Power Plant Manager

If you are looking for the best paying jobs in public utilities, then you can try the role of the Power Plant Engineer. These professionals are responsible for overseeing the manufacturing aspect of the plants. They also have to ensure the smooth operation of every equipment piece and the Power Plant systems.

Applicants need a bachelor’s degress in Engineering and be familiar with different practices in power plants. Some necessary soft skills for a job in public utilities are – good communication and supervisory skills.

Salary Range- $113,198 to $161,500 per year 

5. Water Manager

Looking for the best paying jobs in public utilities? Have you given the role of Water manager any thought yet? They work with the pumping systems, pipelines, and stations. These professionals are also responsible for suggesting efficient methods for water treatment.

You can see it this way– the water managers ensure that the consumers always get clean water free of any impurity. They have to work both on-field and in the office. Sometimes, these professionals have to respond to emergency situations as well. If you think public utilities is a good career path, then you should check out the salaries of these jobs.

Salary Range-  $60,151 to $97,898 per year 

6. Renewable Energy Manager

It is no wonder that a few years from now, most of your consumable energies will start to come from renewable sources. Based on this idea, we can say that public utilities are shifting towards renewable energies. If you are looking for the best paying jobs in public utilities, you can try renewable energy-related jobs.

You will be responsible for providing solutions and implementing strategies to harness energy from solar, water, wind, and more sources. You need an educational background in Engineering or Environmental science to work in this sector.

Salary Range- $50,000 to $121,000 per year

7. Nuclear Licensing Engineers

As a nuclear licensing engineer, you have to offer licensing and regulatory help to nuclear energy plants. This is one of the best paying jobs in public utilities. You also need to be skilled and responsible for the proper performance of the energy plant and its equipment.

You will work with the regulatory professionals and the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) and implement new codes. Through your overall input, you will ensure that the company abides by all the regulatory standards.

Salary Range- $139,000 to $149,000 per year 

8. Utility Manager

Utility managers are responsible for managing power, water, and sewer system. This role requires you to check and maintain if the complete infrastructure is running properly and is up to the mark. You also have to attend to different outages and complaints as a utility manager.

Strong communication and skills to identify the customer’s needs are some necessary skills for this job role.

Salary Range- $104,425 to $134,893 per year

9. Radiation Engineer

Radiation engineers are responsible for checking how radiation changes the environment around the nuclear plant. They prepare reports of different system equipment and check them before and after their contact with radiation. This role also requires you to find different ways to utilize nuclear energy more efficiently.

Salary Range- $90,000 to $159,500 per year

10. Power Distribution Engineer

Power Distribution Engineer is also one of the best paying jobs in public utilities. In this job, your responsibilities will include designing and maintaining different electrical distribution systems. You will design site electrical procedures and offer technical guidance for wiring systems. You will also oversee that the implementation of all of these processes meets the regulation standards.

Salary Range-  $80,000 to $135,000 per year

11. Wastewater Engineer

A wastewater engineer works at a water treatment plant. They ensure that all systems function properly to provide clean and safe drinking water for the community.  

Their main tasks include designing and operating the machines and systems that take in, clean, and distribute water.  

This role requires skills in computer modeling to analyze the treatment process. Wastewater engineers may also engage with government officials and community members to build relationships. 

Salary Range-  $76,000 to $123,500 per year 

12. Water Superintendent

A water superintendent plays a crucial role in the water treatment system. In this position, you are responsible for managing how water is brought into the municipality’s treatment plants.  

Your duties include developing and supervising plans to supply water from sources such as wells, lakes, and rivers to the treatment facilities.  

Additionally, you are tasked with maintaining the municipality’s sewage system. As a supervisory role, you will oversee a team that varies in size depending on the area you serve. 

Smaller towns may have just a few staff members, while larger cities might have a more extensive workforce.  

You may also be responsible for preparing public reports and press releases regarding the city’s water system. 

Salary Range- $68,500 to $121.000 per year

13. Underground Electrician

An underground electrician installs, maintains and repairs an array of underground systemssuch as in mines or telecommunications.  

They run wire in accordance to technical blueprints, as well as allows the regulations of the National Electrical Code and local guidance to ensure the safety of the operation.  

In this profession, you will have to work under a lot of compliance with all the necessary safety measures. 

Salary Range- $62,000 to $89,000 per year

14.  Utility Engineer

A utility engineer is a civil engineer who works for a utility company, like a water, gas, or electric company.  

Their main job is to design, implement, and maintain utility systems, such as water pipes, gas lines, and electrical grids.  

Salary Range- $71,500 to $ 142,000 per year

15. Pipeline Controller

As a pipeline controller, you oversee the operations of pipeline systems. Your main tasks include watching for leaks,  

They also ensure the steady flow of liquid natural gas or oil and coordinate responses during emergencies.  

You also keep records of important events. Pipeline controllers follow established processes to manage systems effectively, optimize power usage, communicate with customers, and train new employees.  

While some travel is required, most work happens at a centralized control facility. To address issues as they come up, this role often involves-  

• Problem-solving  

• Teamwork 

• Multitasking  

Salary Range- $81,734 to $117,000 per year 

Bottom Line

If you are planning to start your career in public utilities, you can go through the list of best paying jobs in public utilities in this article. Surely there are other roles like pipeline controller, power lineman, and power transmission engineer. Those roles also create opportunities for well-paying careers in the industry.

However, if you want clarification on something similar, please list them in the comment section and let us know.

Additional Reading:

• What Are The Best Paying Jobs In Major Banks?
• What Are The Best Paying Jobs In Consumer Durables?
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