Power Plant Operator salary in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Power Plant Operators in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area earn a median of $97,640 a year ($46.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,610 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 26% lower than the Washington statewide median of $131,620. There are 0.14 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $104,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| 25th percentile | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Median | $97,640 | $46.94 |
| 75th percentile | $126,370 | $60.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,610 | $69.52 |
| Average (mean) | $104,720 | $50.34 |
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 | $8,136.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,068.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,755.38 |
| Weekly | $1,877.69 |
| Hourly | $46.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $145,510 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $137,030 | n/a |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $124,950 | 90 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $94,660 | n/a |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $81,240 | $39.06 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,160 | $36.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,350 | $28.53 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| Machinist | $60,480 | $29.08 |
| Baker | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,000 | $22.60 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,680 | $19.08 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $67,300 | $32.36 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,830 | $23.00 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area is $97,640 a year, or $46.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area earn at least $144,610 a year. The top 25% earn $126,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,850 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $83,850 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
About 40 power plant operators are employed in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.