Power Plant Operator salary in Utah
Power Plant Operators in Utah earn a median of $107,120 a year ($51.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,190 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $102,040. Utah ranks 12th of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.24 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $106,170, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Utah
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| 25th percentile | $91,620 | $44.05 |
| Median | $107,120 | $51.50 |
| 75th percentile | $119,760 | $57.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,190 | $60.67 |
| Average (mean) | $106,170 | $51.04 |
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 | $8,926.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,463.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,120 |
| Weekly | $2,060 |
| Hourly | $51.50 |
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 Utah
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,190 | 100 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $117,850 | 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 Utah
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $61,290 | $29.47 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $105,980 | $50.95 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $63,460 | $30.51 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $67,910 | $32.65 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $76,490 | $36.77 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,040 | $21.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,220 | $34.24 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,910 | $23.52 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,460 | $19.93 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,380 | $28.07 |
| Machinist | $61,280 | $29.46 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,390 | $19.90 |
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 Utah?
The median salary for power plant operators in Utah is $107,120 a year, or $51.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Utah?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Utah earn at least $126,190 a year. The top 25% earn $119,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Utah?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,440 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $91,620 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Utah?
About 420 power plant operators are employed in Utah, not counting the self-employed.