State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Hydroelectric Production Manager Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Hydroelectric Production Managers is $126,060 a year ($60.61/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 1.9% through 2034, with about 17,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 11-3051ManagementLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $126,060
- Projected growth
- +1.9%
- Openings a year
- 17,100
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Hydroelectric Station Supervisor (Hydro Station Supervisor), Plant Manager, Power Plant Superintendent, Power Plant Supervisor, Power Project Manager.
How much do Hydroelectric Production Managers make?
10th percentile$78,000
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$98,160
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$126,060
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$161,880
Upper quartile
90th percentile$205,520
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $126,060 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $60.61/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $134,170 |
| People employed | 246,250 |
Versus all US occupations
At $126,060, Hydroelectric Production Managers earn 147% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $75,080 a year.
Versus management occupations
The median is typical for the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $205,520 or more while the bottom 10% earn $78,000, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 90% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Delaware posts the highest raw median ($153,000), but once local prices are taken into account Wyoming leads at $163,436 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Hydroelectric Production Managers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $153,000 | $153,294 | 370 |
| Wyoming | $151,490 | $163,436 | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $148,050 | $139,991 | 4,470 |
| New Jersey | $147,260 | $135,343 | 6,780 |
| New Hampshire | $146,590 | $140,729 | 1,540 |
| Washington | $145,210 | $135,694 | 4,760 |
| Colorado | $141,020 | $136,844 | 1,730 |
| Connecticut | $134,780 | $130,084 | 3,360 |
| Louisiana | $133,210 | $151,020 | 2,680 |
| California | $132,620 | $119,780 | 25,130 |
Is Hydroelectric Production Manager a growing career?
Hydroelectric Production Managers1.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+1.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Hydroelectric Production Managers to change 1.9% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 4,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 17,100 openings are projected each year, 7.1% of the 241,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 17,100 openings for industrial production managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Industrial production managers will continue to be needed in manufacturing and other industries. However, in some industries with declining employment, fewer of these managers may be needed.
How to become a Hydroelectric Production Manager
Industrial production managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of related work experience.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as hydroelectric production managers.
- Post-Secondary Certificate29.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)21.3%
- Bachelor's Degree14.9%
- Some College Courses14.1%
- High School Diploma13.6%
What does a Hydroelectric Production Manager do?
Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct activities involved in creating a range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, and paper products.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor or inspect hydroelectric equipment, such as hydro-turbines, generators, or control systems.
- Maintain records of hydroelectric facility operations, maintenance, or repairs.
- Direct operations, maintenance, or repair of hydroelectric power facilities.
- Inspect hydroelectric facilities, including switchyards, control houses, or relay houses, for normal operation or adherence to safety standards.
- Supervise hydropower plant equipment installations, upgrades, or maintenance.
- Provide technical direction in the erection or commissioning of hydroelectric equipment or supporting electrical or mechanical systems.
- Supervise or monitor hydroelectric facility operations to ensure that generation or mechanical equipment conform to applicable regulations or standards.
- Develop or implement projects to improve efficiency, economy, or effectiveness of hydroelectric plant operations.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where hydroelectric production managers work
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 10% |
|---|---|
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 9% |
| Chemical manufacturing | 8% |
| Food manufacturing | 8% |
| Machinery manufacturing | 7% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Active Learning3.6/5
- Learning Strategies3.6/5
- Writing3.5/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Persuasion3.4/5
- Instructing3.4/5
- Service Orientation3.4/5
Tools and software
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Clustering software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Hydroelectric Production Manager?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.4
Investigative3.6
Artistic1.0
Social1.8
Enterprisingprimary4.6
Conventionalprimary5.0
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Hydroelectric Production Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Hydroelectric Production Managers make?
Hydroelectric Production Managers earn a median of $126,060 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 147% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $60.61/hr. The middle half earn between $98,160 and $161,880. The top 10% earn $205,520 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Hydroelectric Production Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Hydroelectric Production Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 29.0% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Hydroelectric Production Manager a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.9% over 2024–2034 against 3.1% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 17,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Hydroelectric Production Manager do?
Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants. A core O*NET task: monitor or inspect hydroelectric equipment, such as hydro-turbines, generators, or control systems. Employers most often ask for Data base management system software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Hydroelectric Production Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Hydroelectric Production Managers are Delaware ($153,000), Wyoming ($151,490), Massachusetts ($148,050) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Wyoming moves to the top at $163,436.
What personality type suits a Hydroelectric Production Manager?
O*NET scores Hydroelectric Production Managers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.