Power Plant Operator salary in Delaware
Power Plant Operators in Delaware earn a median of $103,010 a year ($49.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,330 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $102,040. Delaware ranks 22nd of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.16 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $110,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,750 | $41.22 |
| 25th percentile | $100,610 | $48.37 |
| Median | $103,010 | $49.53 |
| 75th percentile | $124,170 | $59.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,330 | $61.70 |
| Average (mean) | $110,380 | $53.07 |
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 | $8,584.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,292.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,961.92 |
| Weekly | $1,980.96 |
| Hourly | $49.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Power Plant Operator salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,350 | 310 |
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 |
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,770 | $21.04 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $63,200 | $30.39 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,190 | $27.50 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,730 | $16.22 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,270 | $27.54 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Food Batchmaker | $37,220 | $17.90 |
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 Delaware?
The median salary for power plant operators in Delaware is $103,010 a year, or $49.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Delaware?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Delaware earn at least $128,330 a year. The top 25% earn $124,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,750 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $100,610 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Delaware?
About 80 power plant operators are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.