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Public utilities are a good career path for a good number of reasons. They offer high pay, a stable field of employment, and professional progression.

That said, if you’re thinking of pursuing a career in public utilities, you should ensure it’s a good career fit for you.

Different people have different things that make a career appealing to them. So, we’ll guide you with various answers regarding public utilities’ career paths.

This will help you make a good career decision.

What are Public Utilities?

Public utilities are services rendered by the government or state, such as the supply of electricity and gas or the train network.

Also, public utilities consist of businesses that provide the public with necessities, such as water, electricity, natural gas, and telephone and telegraph communication.

Examples Of Public Utilities

Public utilities consist of a wide variety of industries, including:

1. Electric Utilities

Electric utilities are public utilities that supply power to the public. Their sources could be water, natural gas, or renewable engineer.

Indeed, many career opportunities exist in this industry. You could work as a Nuclear Licensing Engineer or Gas Controller. Also, you could work as a Utilities Manager or Power Engineer.

In addition, administrative and customer services positions are available.

Many homes and businesses are powered by energy from natural gas. Therefore, public utility workers in natural gas deal with the distribution of natural gas commodities to customers via networks of pipelines.

Some of the best jobs in natural gas distribution are:

3. Sewage Removal

Sewage companies help to dispose of waste matter such as feces or dirty water from homes and factories.

They also help to maintain sanitation, hygiene, and safety. You could work in planning and organizing positions such as Wastewater Engineer, Plant Supervisor, Crew Leader, and more.

4. Water Supply

Another public important public utility area is the water supply. The water supply department ensures that water is treated and tested safe for use.

In addition, they ensure there’s no obstruction in water flow to various homes across the country.

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Is Public Utilities A Good Career Path?

Yes, public utilities is a good career path. Public utilities offer a variety of career paths, from engineering and construction to operations and maintenance.

With opportunities available in rural and urban areas, public utilities can provide a stable job with good earnings potential.

Additionally, public utilities offer excellent benefits, including retirement plans and health insurance.

Further, some things that make public utilities a good career path are high pay scales, a stable field of employment, professional progression, and entry-level positions.

Now let’s take a look at these factors in detail:

High Pay Scales

One of the reasons public utilities is a good career path for many people is the high pay. The public utility industry provides higher wages when compared to the private sector. However, the salary rate depends on the difficulty of the job.

Also, the required level of education for the job will affect your earnings. Job levels range from basic to intermediate, technical, and advanced.

Further, in public utilities, there are no gender-based pay differences; hence, men and women receive the same wages, unlike in the private sector.

A Stable Field of Employment

Most public utilities jobs offer career stability. This is in contrast to private utility jobs, where workers may be terminated at any moment.

In other words, public utilities offer jobs that are publicly bidden and offer job security after several years.

Professional Progression

The employees of public utilities have systems of position and salary advancement based on length of service.

Also, competency evaluation procedures exist in most departments, foundations, businesses, and other public entities. They serve as criteria for professional progress and a good career path.

Further, higher education can bring about a progressive career path in public utilities. For instance, completing classes or engaging in other professional development activities has given employees a wage boost or bonus.

Entry Level Positions

There are many great middle-level opportunities in which those with advanced degrees may also compete. Interestingly, these positions do not require prior experience.

Unlike in the private sector, this creates opportunities for young individuals seeking entry-level jobs.

Public utilities offer other advantages. For example, no specialized training is necessary for participation in higher-level positions in public utilities except for a few sectors.

What are the Benefits of Public Utilities?

High salary
Job satisfaction
A stable job with good pay and advancement potential
Opportunity to advance in your career
Entry-level opportunities
Health insurance benefits
Opportunity to be known in the community

What are the Job Prospects for Public Utilities?

As of 2020, public utilities employed around 172,232 people in the United States; also, data predicts that 10,859 positions will be added annually through 2026 (Source).

However, there are various water-related occupations with above-average replacement rates in all industries, projected from 2014 to 2024.

Also, the Utility Dive website reports that the number of jobs in the utility industry is projected to grow by 10% over the next ten years. This growth is partly due to the aging population and increased energy and water services demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in local government utilities such as water, sewage, and other systems has been relatively stable over the past decade.

However, like construction employment as a whole, water and sewer system construction has fluctuated.

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How Much Can You Make From Public Utilities?

The average salary for a Utility Worker is $20.60 per hour in the United States according to indeed.com.

Further, a Public Utilities Specialist makes $74,177 per year in the United States, with an average salary of $40,899 per year.

7 Highly Paid Public Utilities Career Paths for Graduates

1. Utility Manager

A utility manager ensures that the infrastructure is up-to-date. Also, he inspects facilities and orders maintenance and repairs if necessary.

Additionally, you’ll coordinate with response teams in the event of an unplanned shutdown and look for ways to lower costs or improve service quality.

The average Utilities Manager’s salary in the United States is $78168 in 2022, according to salary.com. However, the salary range typically falls between $68592 and $88946.

Further, utility managers tend to enjoy their career paths. They are service-driven and love the opportunity to serve their community. Most utility managers rate their jobs above 3 stars.

Is public utilities a good career path — Utility manager reviews from Glassdoor

2. Engineers

Engineers play an important role in public utilities. Utility Engineers perform mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering work in public utilities.

They help to design, construct, operate and maintain water systems, electrical power lines, and power plants.

Also, you’ll find them in telecommunications facilities, gas pipelines, and light and heavy rail systems.

You can build a good career path in a water, gas, or electricity company. The average Utility Engineer’s salary is $73,035 as of May 27, 2022, according to salary.com.

However, the salary range typically falls between $62,025 and $105,606. This is similar to the payscale average base pay of $70,311 per year.

3. Office and Administrative Support

Another job for graduates in public utilities is office and administrative support. Office and administrative support plan, direct, and coordinate activities that help utility companies run efficiently.

You can work in the operations department as an administrator and support work involving utilities.

The average US Department of Energy Administrative Assistant’s yearly pay in the United States is approximately $81,784, according to indeed.com. This is 112% above the national average.

4. Auditing and Accounting

As an auditor, your role is to examine financial records prepared by the directors of an organization for accuracy.

In addition, as an auditor or accountant, you’ll observe physical inventories, banks, and other reconciliations.

This is a good career path in public utilities, where the average energy auditor makes $79,000 in the United States. The average hourly pay for an Energy Auditor is $38.04

Average energy auditor salary according to Zippia.com

Similarly, as of June 20, 2022, the average annual pay for a Utility Accountant in the United States is $51,347 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.

While those in the 25th percentile are making $71,000, those in the 90th percentile are making up to $79,000 per year.

Utility Accountant Salary by ZipRecruiter

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5. Water Treatment Plant & System Operator

A water treatment plant and system operator runs the equipment, controls the processes, and monitors the plants that treat water to make it safe to drink.

Also, he removes pollutants from domestic and industrial wastes. The national average salary for a Water Treatment Plant Operator is $44,972 per year in the United States, according to Glassdoor.

6. Marketing Manager

A marketing manager is in charge of planning and tracking the marketing department’s budget and strategy.

A marketing manager’s overall goal is to assist their organization in reaching their target customers and driving brand engagement.

The average FOR Energy Marketing Manager’s yearly pay in the United States is approximately $86,621, according to indeed.com. This is 31% above the national average.

7. Telecommunications Engineer

A telecommunications engineer designs, constructs, installs, and services telecommunications equipment and systems.

You can work in telecommunication areas such as telephone and internet networks, radio and television broadcasting, and satellite communications.

The average salary for a telecommunications engineer is $90,075 per year in the United States. This is based on 396 salaries reported on indeed.com, in 2022.

Conclusion

Public utilities offer a good career path for young professionals. Utility jobs are available in electric power, natural gas, sewage removal, and water supply.

Not only do public utilities provide a huge number of employees for the general public, but they also usually provide their employees with a variety of attractive perks, some of which are not accessible to private sector employees.

Choosing a job in public utilities may be useful because the public sector remains the largest employer of labor while also providing a number of attractive advantages to employees.

These jobs offer a good career path, including high pay, a stable field of employment, and professional progression.

Frequently Asked Questions on is public utilities a good career path

What are public utilities?

Public utilities are services rendered by the government or state, such as the supply of electricity and gas or the train network.

What is an example of a public utility?

A public utility is a company that offers goods or services to the general public. Common carriers as well as corporations that provide electric, gas, water, heat, and television cable systems, are examples of public utilities.

What are public utilities and services?

Electricity, natural gas, water, sanitation, waste disposal and recycling, communications, public rail, bus transportation, and certain storage facilities, such as public warehouses and grain elevators, are among the products or services provided by the public utility industry.