Median Salary
$102,040
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$49.06
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$131,940
entry level starts ~$61,790
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 29,000 employed
How much does a Power Plant Operator make?
The median pay for a Power Plant Operator in the United States is $102,040 per year — about $49.06 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $61,790, while the most experienced Power Plant Operators in the top 10% earn $131,940.
That is $40,650 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Power Plant Operator salary range by percentile
Half of all Power Plant Operators earn between $79,690 and $119,080 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,790 | $29.71 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $79,690 | $38.31 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $102,040 | $49.06 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $119,080 | $57.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,940 | $63.43 |
|
Highest-paying states for Power Plant Operator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Power Plant Operator pay at $131,620 a year, followed by Nevada ($131,400) and New Jersey ($131,370). At the other end, Wisconsin posts the lowest median at $66,080 — a gap of $65,540 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Power Plant Operator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Washington $131,620Nevada $131,400New Jersey $131,370Idaho $124,440North Dakota $122,160Hawaii $121,700Tennessee $115,920Maryland $111,260Oregon $109,830North Carolina $108,300Georgia $107,580Utah $107,120Alabama $107,080Indiana $107,000New York $106,990Montana $106,040Michigan $105,820New Mexico $105,510California $105,210Illinois $104,440Ohio $104,160Delaware $103,010Colorado $102,780Texas $102,510Mississippi $102,400Missouri $101,900Louisiana $101,170Iowa $100,500Massachusetts $100,140Wyoming $99,200Nebraska $98,210Rhode Island $98,050Arkansas $97,760Connecticut $97,460West Virginia $97,210Pennsylvania $95,800Minnesota $94,390Florida $94,290Kentucky $93,400Alaska $88,870Oklahoma $88,590Arizona $84,970New Hampshire $81,070Maine $81,060Kansas $79,980South Carolina $79,900Vermont $78,240Virginia $73,640Wisconsin $66,080
Workforce and education
About 29,000 people work as Power Plant Operators in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Power Plant Operator make in the United States?
The median Power Plant Operator salary in the United States is $102,040 per year, or about $49.06 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $61,790, while the top 10% of earners make $131,940 or more.
How does Power Plant Operator pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Power Plant Operator median of $102,040 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Power Plant Operators the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Power Plant Operators, with a median salary of $131,620 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Power Plant Operator?
Becoming a Power Plant Operator typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Power Plant Operators work in the United States?
About 29,000 people were employed as Power Plant Operators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other manufacturing & production roles with similar pay.
$78,620
median pay · 28,000 employed
$65,380
median pay · 34,000 employed
$68,120
median pay · 29,000 employed
$62,470
median pay · 14,000 employed
$122,890
median pay · 5,000 employed
$87,820
median pay · 18,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.