Power Plant Operator salary in Nebraska
Power Plant Operators in Nebraska earn a median of $98,210 a year ($47.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,570 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $102,040. Nebraska ranks 31st of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.35 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $97,900, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Nebraska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,850 | $31.66 |
| 25th percentile | $88,350 | $42.48 |
| Median | $98,210 | $47.22 |
| 75th percentile | $114,520 | $55.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,570 | $60.37 |
| Average (mean) | $97,900 | $47.07 |
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 | $8,184.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,092.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,777.31 |
| Weekly | $1,888.65 |
| Hourly | $47.22 |
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 Nebraska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $106,520 | 80 |
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 Nebraska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $61,220 | $29.43 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $64,930 | $31.22 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,790 | $42.21 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $98,570 | $47.39 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $108,650 | $52.24 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,200 | $34.71 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $48,910 | $23.52 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,220 | $25.10 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| Printing Press Operator | $42,070 | $20.23 |
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 Nebraska?
The median salary for power plant operators in Nebraska is $98,210 a year, or $47.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Nebraska?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Nebraska earn at least $125,570 a year. The top 25% earn $114,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Nebraska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,850 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $88,350 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Nebraska?
About 360 power plant operators are employed in Nebraska, not counting the self-employed.