Power Plant Operator salary in Michigan
Power Plant Operators in Michigan earn a median of $105,820 a year ($50.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,250 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $102,040. Michigan ranks 17th of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.28 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $105,460, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,520 | $35.83 |
| 25th percentile | $99,350 | $47.76 |
| Median | $105,820 | $50.88 |
| 75th percentile | $124,090 | $59.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,250 | $63.10 |
| Average (mean) | $105,460 | $50.70 |
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 | $8,818.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,409.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,070 |
| Weekly | $2,035 |
| Hourly | $50.88 |
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 Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,050 | 300 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $103,230 | 80 |
| Bay City, MI | $98,930 | 50 |
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 Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,270 | $28.49 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $100,500 | $48.32 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $82,800 | $39.81 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $116,780 | $56.15 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $64,690 | $31.10 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $84,030 | $40.40 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $72,430 | $34.82 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Machinist | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,950 | $18.24 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,490 | $18.99 |
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 Michigan?
The median salary for power plant operators in Michigan is $105,820 a year, or $50.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Michigan?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Michigan earn at least $131,250 a year. The top 25% earn $124,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,520 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $99,350 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Michigan?
About 1,220 power plant operators are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.