The massive streams of data a plant generates have to be captured and made usable, and that's your domain — managing the historian systems that store and serve process data. The keeper of the plant's data history.
The work blends IT with industrial operations: configuring and maintaining process historian software, managing huge volumes of time-series data, building displays and reports, and supporting engineers who use it. The data is only useful if it's reliable and accessible, and a gap or error in the history can mislead real decisions.
The role sits between IT and plant operations, so you translate between two different worlds. The systems are specialized, the work can be quiet until something breaks, and you're expected to keep critical data flowing reliably. Manufacturing, energy, and process industries shape the work.
It tends to suit people who are systematic, detail-driven, and a good translator. If you want flashy or fast-changing work, the niche may feel quiet. But if you like making a plant's data trustworthy and usable, it's a stable, valued specialty.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
The massive streams of data a plant generates have to be captured and made usable, and that's your domain — managing the historian systems that store and serve process data. The keeper of the plant's data history.
Median pay for a Process Information Historian (PI Historian) is about $74K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $39K to $129K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, and Active Listening.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 2.2% through 2034, with roughly 3,140 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Research Associate, Collections Specialist, and Senior Collections Specialist.
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