Public utilities are one of the most underrated careers, yet it has an important impact on the economy and our day-to-day lives. The services public utility companies render make public utilities a good career path because they cannot be neglected.
According to infidelity research, the utilities sector has a market capitalization of more than $1.58 trillion. This means that the public utilities sector has a high market cap, and the higher the value, the larger the companies.
One may wonder if public utilities is a good career path for graduates. Yes, indeed, public utilities is a good career path for college grads.
This career path guarantees job security, and a salary often more significant than the regular average salaries offered by other sectors.
We will discuss this and many other factors to prove that public utilities are a good career path for graduates.
Therefore, this article will answer the question, “Is public utilities a good career path for graduates?”
Other significant facts regarding public utilities will be covered, as well as the
many career prospects offered in public utilities.
What Is Public Utilities?
According to Wikipedia.com, a public utility company is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for public service.
Public utilities are industries that focus on offering necessities or core products and services. Such as water, gas, electricity, roads, telephones, television stations, radio stations, and other amenities the public enjoys. These companies enable the general public to receive basic services.
A small business offering services to a nearby community could be a public utility firm. A public utility company may also be a major corporation owned by a state or national
government.
They are called public utilities because the services offered are utilities enjoyed and used by the general public.
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Is Public Utilities A Good Career Path?
There are certain amenities that everyone in any country enjoys; public utilities provide these amenities. So, returning to the question, is public utilities a good career path?
Undoubtedly, public utilities is a good career path. Public utilities have a significant impact on the economy and our day-to-day lives.
Industries or companies that are categorized as public utility companies deliver essential services, such as electricity, water, and gas. They also offer other
services, such as waste management and transportation.
Public utilities are one of the most underrated careers. There are a lot of reasons for this. Still, public utilities are undervalued because most of the public does not realize or appreciate the significance of public utilities. We often see them as a non-exciting sector. This perception is, however, wrong.
The services public utility companies render make public utilities a good career path because they cannot neglected. Regardless of how unappreciated they seem to be, they can not be downplayed in any country because they are a vital part of every country.
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Why Public Utilities Is a Good Career Path | The Pros And Cons Of A Career In Public Utilities
Every industry has advantages and disadvantages; public utilities aren’t left out; this sector also has pros and cons.
Whether public utilities are a good career path cannot be fully answered, if we do not discuss the pros and cons of the public utility sector.
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The Pros
- An employee in the public utility sector is open to tons of advantages. For instance, if one is going for a career in construction utilities and energy, as a gas worker or an electrician, they would expect a great salary turnout upon payment.
- More interestingly, as a public utility worker, you have the discretion to choose the sector you would like to work in. This time you choose would be flexible in line with your schedule. This flexibility factor the public utility sector gives is always among the foremost answers one can’t get to the question, “is a public utility a good career path?”.
- Anyone intending to work in a construction field in the public utility sector has embedded benefits one is open to enjoy. One major benefit is the possibility that one’s career paths will cross with many other companies. This thereby gives one the discretion always to choose which company one would like to work in.
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The Cons
- The downside of a career in public utilities, the highly tasking work environment and the
- Complex work condition always tops the list. These sectors are highly demanding, so if one is not skilled enough, there’s a high tendency that one could find this career path very difficult.
- Another issue is the problems encountered on sites. Plus, most public utility companies serve as monopolies.
- It may even amaze you that some private companies in the public utility sector are sinking into debt, and this is due to the large infrastructural requirements.
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What Are The Examples Of Public Utilities Careers?
An answer to the question is public utilities a good career path is not complete without giving examples of careers under public utilities. So thus, examples of careers under public utilities are;
- Renewable Energy Managers
- Natural Gas Distribution Managers
- Pipeline Inspectors
- Water Engineers
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Wild Farm Managers
- Nuclear Licensing Engineers
- Radiation Engineers
- Utility Managers
- Pipeline Contractors
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What Are The Skills Required To Succeed In A Career In
Public Utilities?
Anyone desiring to have a career in public utilities should take note of the need to possess the following skills.
Even if they don’t possess these skills, they can groom themselves to learn the skills needed in the public utility sector.
Be someone who is willing to develop him or herself
Public utility work should be done passionately because it is more than a routine job. If changing people’s lives excites you, you might want to think about a career in public utilities, but you must be willing to put in additional effort in all you do.
You must dedicate yourself to the task and give it everything you have to get the most out of it.
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Willingness To learn new skills when required
One could sense being left behind due to the public utilities sector’s rapid advancement. Learning never ceases in the public utility field; learning is a common sensation.
In this industry, it’s important to be open to the most recent technological advancements and worldwide trends and always to be prepared to pick up new skills to enhance one’s job.
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Willingness to take risks
Working in the public utility industry can be challenging and demanding, but this shouldn’t deter anyone from entering the field.
With the desire to take on challenging risks, try new things, and go beyond one’s comfort zone, one can succeed in this field.
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Persistence
Public utilities is a challenging field, as has already been stated, but despite these difficulties, it is also very rewarding. This factor also builds up to answer the question of whether public utilities are a good career path.
Public utilities are a good career path because it is highly compensatory for the task their workers face.
Anybody intending to enter this industry must overcome challenges to succeed in the public utility sector in the long run.
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Have a positive attitude
Although the public utility industry can be stressful, it’s always crucial to have a good outlook.
Keep your attention on the good you’re doing, and never forget how much of a difference you’re making in people’s lives by working in this sector.
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What Are The Educational And Training Requirements For A Career In Public Utilities?
Everyone with different levels of education and experience can find employment prospects in the public utility sector.
The skills or educational requirements needed in one sector of the public utility industry might not be applicable in another because the sector is made up of several companies.
Graduates of high school qualify for numerous entry-level positions in public utilities. However, they are often required to undergo training by the individual company or industry.
Although companies like the electric power industry often always require higher standards for employment, such as a technical school degree, university degree, or community college certificate.
Most workers in public utilities start as laborers or are, at first instance, engaged in some jobs that do not require a lot of skills. Entry-level workers are often enrolled in an apprenticeship program to gain more experience.
In this sector, before one can get promoted to higher-paying positions, one must have more skills.
Considerable progress is feasible in this sector. Many companies in this sector usually have about 3 and 5 pay tiers determined by how long one has worked in the industry and how much experience one has.
To earn a promotion to the next level in this industry, one must learn new skills, participate in training programs, and pass the oral and written exams.
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What Are The Salary And Job Outlook For A Career In Public Utilities?
We have predicted that employment in public utilities will slide down. Despite this, there will be a lot of job openings because many employees in the sector are nearing retirement and must be replaced.
The salaries in public utilities are higher than earnings in other industries. As of 2020, the Department of Energy employed the most workers as Public utility Specialists, with an average salary of $110,179.
The average salary of workers in public utilities is $64,283 per annum.
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What Do Public Utilities Jobs Pay?
The question of the amount the public utilities sector pays is tied to the main question: is public utilities a good career path?
During the period 2017-2022, the number of people employed in the public utilities sector in the United States increased by 0.5%.
According to the most recent report, the current number of public utility employees in the United States is 675,775.
Maintenance, construction, repair, management, cleaning, and other jobs in public utilities are available. Public utilities jobs pay between $52,000 and $82,000 per year on average.
Meanwhile, the amount earned largely depends on the position one is employed in, the skills one has acquired, the education level, and one’s working experience.
This sector is seen to cherish meritocracy, so the better you are, the more you’re likely to earn.
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List Of Best Paying Jobs In Public Utilities
To answer the question of whether public utilities are a good career path, one must touch on the best-paying jobs in the public utility industry.
The top 10 best-paying jobs in public utilities these jobs are listed in ascending order; the jobs are listed as follows:
- Water Resource Specialist: Salary range- $59,500-$308,500 annually.
- Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer: Salary range- $73,500-$172,000 annually
- Nuclear Licensing Engineer: Salary range- $66,500-$145,500 annually
- Utility Manager: Salary range- $62,500-$142,000 annually
- Power Plant Engineer: Salary range- $96,500-$136,500 annually
- Power System Dispatcher: Salary range- $47,500-$125,000 annually
- Radiation Engineer: Salary range- $73,000-$123,000 annually.
- Gas Controller: Salary range- $62,500-$120,000 annually
- Substation Engineer: Salary range- $91,000-$118,000 annually.
- Pipeline Controller: Salary range- $63,000-$117,500 annually.
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What Companies Are In Public Utilities Field?
Having listed the best paying jobs in the public utility industry, we are still yet to completely answer the question: is public utilities a good career path?
Now, the companies in public utilities worldwide would be listed to give more enlightenment about this industry.
This list, however, entails the world’s ten biggest public utility companies. These companies are:
1. Électricité de France SA (ECIFY)
Revenue: $76.8 billion
Net Income: $2.2 billion
Market Cap: $30.2 billion
Exchange: OTC
2. Enel SpA (ENLAY)
Revenue: $67.6 billion
Net Income (TTM): $2.4 billion
Market Cap: $92.2 billion
Exchange: OTC
3. Engie (ENGY)
Revenue: $67.0 billion
Net Income (TTM): $1.1 billion
1-Year Trailing Total Return: -13.0%
Exchange: OTC
4. Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings (TKECY)
Revenue (TTM): $57.4 billion
Net Income (TTM): $0.5 billion
5. E. ON SE (EONGY)
Revenue: $55.1 billion
Net Income: $0.9 billion
Market Cap: $30.3 billion
1-Year Trailing Total Return: 22.8%
6. Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEP)
Revenue (TTM): $49.4 billion
Net Income: -$1.3 billion
1-Year Trailing Total Return: -33.3%
Exchange: New Y
7. Ibedrola SA (IBDRY)
Revenue (TTM): $38.3 billion
Net Income (TTM): $4.0 billion
Market Cap: $78.9 billion
1-Year Trailing Total Return: 39.9%
Exchange: OTC
8. Exelon Corp. (EXC)
Revenue : $33.7 billion
Net Income (TTM): $2.6 billion
Market Cap: $37.6 billion
1-Year Trailing Total Return: -11.3%
Exchange: NASDAQ
9. Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc (KAEPY)
Revenue (TTM): $29.3 billion
Net Income: $1.2 billion
10.Centrica PLC (CPYYY)
Revenue (TTM): $27.6 billion
Net Income: -$0.8 billion
Market Cap: $3.6 billion
How To Get Started In A Career In Public Utilities
To get started in a career in public utilities, one has to research the industry and the job vacancies open; one should also do more to ensure that one gets into a sector that matches their skills and interests.
Then, the submission of one’s application and resumé can follow.
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FAQs On Is Public Utilities A Good Career Path
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Conclusion
It can be concluded that the question ”is public utilities as a good career path?” has been adequately answered in this article, and a lot of information has been given about the public utility industry.
So on an ending note, anyone who intends to venture into a career path in public utilities should research the industry and ensure they get into the sector with an open mind.
With all said, you are guaranteed to thrive in this sector.
References
- payscale.com– for the average salary of workers in public utilities
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