Power Plant Operator salary in Washington
Power Plant Operators in Washington earn a median of $131,620 a year ($63.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,610 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $102,040. Washington ranks 1st of 49 states for power plant operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.12 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $128,230, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| 25th percentile | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Median | $131,620 | $63.28 |
| 75th percentile | $152,110 | $73.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,610 | $81.06 |
| Average (mean) | $128,230 | $61.65 |
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 | $10,968.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,484.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,062.31 |
| Weekly | $2,531.15 |
| Hourly | $63.28 |
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 Washington
| 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 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $97,640 | 40 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $80,800 | $38.85 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $103,620 | $49.82 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $91,530 | $44.00 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $144,710 | $69.57 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $88,730 | $42.66 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Machinist | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| Baker | $46,140 | $22.18 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for power plant operators in Washington is $131,620 a year, or $63.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Washington?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Washington earn at least $168,610 a year. The top 25% earn $152,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,390 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $102,440 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Washington?
About 430 power plant operators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.