Power Plant Operator salary in Florida
Power Plant Operators in Florida earn a median of $94,290 a year ($45.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,330 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $102,040. Florida ranks 38th of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.17 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $89,890, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 25th percentile | $65,400 | $31.44 |
| Median | $94,290 | $45.33 |
| 75th percentile | $109,820 | $52.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,330 | $60.74 |
| Average (mean) | $89,890 | $43.22 |
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 | $7,857.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,928.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,626.54 |
| Weekly | $1,813.27 |
| Hourly | $45.33 |
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 Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $119,550 | 90 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $109,090 | 50 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $106,540 | 100 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $105,740 | 170 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $84,690 | 290 |
| Gainesville, FL | $78,890 | 50 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $71,070 | 30 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,080 | 380 |
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 Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $50,910 | $24.47 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $63,480 | $30.52 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $65,040 | $31.27 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $128,830 | $61.94 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,340 | $15.55 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| Baker | $35,870 | $17.24 |
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 Florida?
The median salary for power plant operators in Florida is $94,290 a year, or $45.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Florida?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Florida earn at least $126,330 a year. The top 25% earn $109,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,840 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $65,400 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Florida?
About 1,640 power plant operators are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.