Power Plant Operator salary in the U.S.
Power Plant Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $102,040 a year ($49.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 29,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,940 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $99,790, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 25th percentile | $79,690 | $38.31 |
| Median | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| 75th percentile | $119,080 | $57.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,940 | $63.44 |
| Average (mean) | $99,790 | $47.97 |
Half of power plant operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,503.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,251.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,924.62 |
| Weekly | $1,962.31 |
| Hourly | $49.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Power Plant Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $131,620 | 430 |
| Nevada | $131,400 | 250 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 | 300 |
| Idaho | $124,440 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 | 490 |
| Maryland | $111,260 | 330 |
| Oregon | $109,830 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 | 420 |
| Georgia | $107,580 | 590 |
| Utah | $107,120 | 420 |
| Alabama | $107,080 | 790 |
| Indiana | $107,000 | 1,190 |
| New York | $106,990 | 1,960 |
| Montana | $106,040 | 130 |
| Michigan | $105,820 | 1,220 |
| New Mexico | $105,510 | 130 |
| California | $105,210 | 2,610 |
| Illinois | $104,440 | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $104,160 | 730 |
| Delaware | $103,010 | 80 |
| Colorado | $102,780 | 250 |
| Texas | $102,510 | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $102,400 | 450 |
| Missouri | $101,900 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $101,170 | 370 |
| Iowa | $100,500 | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $100,140 | 880 |
| Wyoming | $99,200 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $98,210 | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $98,050 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $97,760 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $97,460 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $97,210 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,800 | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $94,390 | 970 |
| Florida | $94,290 | 1,640 |
| Kentucky | $93,400 | 690 |
| Alaska | $88,870 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $88,590 | 520 |
| Arizona | $84,970 | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 | 90 |
| Maine | $81,060 | 190 |
| Kansas | $79,980 | 520 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 | 680 |
| Vermont | $78,240 | 140 |
| Virginia | $73,640 | 590 |
| Puerto Rico | $70,640 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | $66,080 | 420 |
| Guam | $61,230 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for power plant operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $145,510 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $138,930 | 130 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $137,030 | n/a |
| Boise City, ID | $134,050 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,380 | 210 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $133,140 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,600 | 300 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $132,030 | 120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $131,770 | 1,090 |
| Reno, NV | $129,020 | 60 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,190 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $124,950 | 90 |
| New Haven, CT | $123,840 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $123,540 | 640 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $122,020 | 170 |
Metro areas with the most power plant operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,090 | $131,770 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 640 | $103,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 640 | $123,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 540 | $105,870 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 530 | $104,620 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 470 | $99,000 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 380 | $62,080 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 310 | $101,350 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 300 | $108,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 300 | $132,600 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 290 | $84,690 |
| Syracuse, NY | 290 | $97,300 |
| Birmingham, AL | 280 | $106,990 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 270 | $98,060 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 260 | $119,380 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for power plant operators in the U.S. is $102,040 a year, or $49.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the U.S. earn at least $131,940 a year. The top 25% earn $119,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,790 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $79,690 or less.
How many power plant operators work in the U.S.?
About 29,320 power plant operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.