by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Power Plant Engineering covers A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan Electrical Systems And Modify Existing Electrical Systems That Generate And Use Large Amounts Of Electricity Required For Distribution Networks That Are Economical, Safe, And Functional. Includes Instruction In Alternative/renewable Energy Systems; Calculus; Circuit Analysis; Electrical Power Systems And Industry Practices; Electrical System Design; Microprocessor Architecture; Motor Control Systems; Power Electronics Operation, Planning And Protection; Programmable Logic Controllers; And Project Management. Read on to learn the key facts every power plant engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering power plant engineering programs.
Nationwide, power plant engineering is a popular field of study, with 9 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Power Plant Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for power plant engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of power plant engineering programs later in this article.
Studies in Power Plant Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations power plant engineering graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a power plant engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a power plant engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to power plant engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in power plant engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in power plant engineering prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to power plant engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to power plant engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Salaries for power plant engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers power plant engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
With 1 different power plant engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased power plant engineering school rankings to help you.
Those considering power plant engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Energy Systems Engineering, General | 149 |
| Energy Systems Engineering, Other | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
