How Many Jobs Are Available In Public Utilities

The public utilities sector brings vital services to the common people. These services include water, gas, and electricity. It is an industry that plays a crucial role in social and economic development. That’s why you can always find many jobs in the sector. And that’s why so many people keep asking how many jobs are available in public utilities.

In addition, it is an industry that provides a wide range of jobs. There are entry-level jobs as well as roles for highly-qualified engineers. So, it is fair to say that there are jobs for everyone based on their particular skills and qualifications.

But is the industry creating jobs regularly? How many jobs are available in the industry?

There are over 630 thousand people working in the public utilities sector in the USA. This is according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

Let’s check the details and some of the most commonly available roles. We will find out this and much more in this article. Read on if you’re looking to start a career in public utilities.

Here’s How Many Jobs Are Available in Public Utilities

There are some major companies operating in the public utilities sector in the USA. Naturally, the industry creates a lot of jobs for the country. American Electric Power, AT&T, and American Water Works are some massive corporations that offer jobs in the industry.

Now, let’s take a look at how many jobs are available in public utilities (in thousands of jobs):

• Over 630 thousand people work in the public utilities sector in the USA. This is according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
• The expectation is for the public utilities sector to decrease by 4.6% from 2021 to 2031 in terms of job availability.
• Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution are the most important subsector in public utilities representing 60% of the total number of jobs in 2021.

Now that we know the job scenario in the industry, it is time to look at some of the most common jobs available in public utilities.

Most Common Jobs in Public Utilities

1. Electrical Engineer

This is one of the most common roles in the industry, with around 96,000 jobs in the USA. In the duration between 2020 and 2030, the jobs in this position are expected to grow by 2%.

The average annual salary for this role in the United States stands at $85,000. This is one of the jobs that people are looking for how many jobs are available in public utilities.

2. Repair Technician

This one is also among the widely available job roles in the industry. Between 2020 and 2030, the jobs in this position are expected to grow at a whopping 6%. Overall, there are more than 70,000 jobs in this position. On average, you can earn $42,000 in this role in the United States.

3. Plant Operator

There are over 49,000 people working as Plant Operators in the USA. Fortunately, there are also over 37,000 job openings in this role, and the number will seemingly stay on a path upward in the years to come.

On average, a Plant Operator in the United States earns $43,295 every year. It is among the most common roles mentioned when someone asks how many jobs are available in public utilities.

4. Safety Engineer

This is a crucial position in the public utilities industry. Hence, there is always a need for a qualified safety engineer. As a result, over 34,000 people work as safety engineers, and over 1500 new openings are projected for this role every year.

Naturally, such a crucial role pays a good salary, too. That’s why the average annual salary in the role stands at $90,813.

5. Wind Turbine Technician

This one is more of a technical role among jobs available in public utilities. But there are many jobs on offer in a niche-based position like this one. In fact, every year, around 1900 job openings are predicted for this role in the United States.

Employment in this role is predicted to grow at 4% between 2021 and 2031. Which, of course, is a great sign if you have the skills and qualifications to land this job.

Final Thoughts

Working in public utilities comes with a lot of positives. First, you get to play a key role in ensuring that people get the essential services. So, it is a meaningful career option that gives you a reason to go to work every morning.

Apart from that, some jobs in the industry also offer a handsome salary. And you don’t need bags of degrees and certifications to start. You can get in on an entry-level role and learn as you work in this fast-paced sector.

Now that you know how many jobs are available in public utilities, do you think you have the skills for a career in the sector? If you do, get your resume ready and write an excellent cover letter to a top company in the field.

Time to take control of your career trajectory!