Power Plant Operator salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Power Plant Operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $111,260 a year ($53.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $104,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,260 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is about the same as the Maryland statewide median of $111,260. There are 0.17 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $109,540, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,110 | $50.06 |
| 25th percentile | $111,150 | $53.44 |
| Median | $111,260 | $53.49 |
| 75th percentile | $111,260 | $53.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,260 | $53.49 |
| Average (mean) | $109,540 | $52.66 |
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 | $9,271.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,635.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,279.23 |
| Weekly | $2,139.62 |
| Hourly | $53.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Power Plant Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,350 | 310 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,320 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for power plant operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $131,620 |
| Nevada | $131,400 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 |
| Idaho | $124,440 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 |
| Maryland | $111,260 |
| Oregon | $109,830 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 |
See Power Plant Operator pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,640 | $29.16 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $83,530 | $40.16 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $86,240 | $41.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,970 | $37.48 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,320 | $20.35 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,740 | $16.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| Baker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Food Batchmaker | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $60,280 | $28.98 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $111,260 a year, or $53.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $104,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $111,260 a year. The top 25% earn $111,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $104,110 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $111,150 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 230 power plant operators are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.