Power Plant Operator Salary
Power Plant Operators earn a median $102,040 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$102,040
$49.06 per hour
Range
$61,790 – $131,940
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
29,320
across the U.S.
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for power plant operators in the U.S. rose from $99,670 (May 2024) to $102,040 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What power plant operators do
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.1% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 2,300
Employment of power plant operators is projected to shrink 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Power Plant Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$80,615
per year · effective tax rate 21.0%
$6,718Monthly
$3,359Twice a month
$3,101Every 2 weeks
$38.76Hourly
- Federal income tax$13,619
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,326
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,480
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$80,615
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,790 | $29.71 | $51,828 |
| 25th percentile | $79,690 | $38.31 | $64,892 |
| Median (50th) | $102,040 | $49.06 | $80,615 |
| 75th percentile | $119,080 | $57.25 | $92,603 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,940 | $63.43 | $101,447 |
Power Plant Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $131,620 | +6.1% | $101,228 | $85,390 – $168,610 | 430 |
| Nevada | $131,400 | +22.8% | $101,078 | $71,760 – $141,600 | 250 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 | +19.5% | $94,879 | $83,510 – $131,940 | 300 |
| Idaho | $124,440 | +21.1% | $90,834 | $68,960 – $137,670 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 | +11.7% | $93,639 | $104,300 – $134,280 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 | +5.7% | $86,727 | $103,430 – $134,770 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 | +8.0% | $90,380 | $68,060 – $125,690 | 490 |
| Maryland | $111,260 | +4.7% | $82,168 | $85,120 – $122,030 | 330 |
| Oregon | $109,830 | −4.1% | $77,315 | $76,740 – $145,110 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 | +9.1% | $81,207 | $62,580 – $132,040 | 420 |
| Georgia | $107,580 | +3.9% | $79,552 | $58,660 – $124,670 | 590 |
| Utah | $107,120 | +3.2% | $80,335 | $77,440 – $126,190 | 420 |
| Alabama | $107,080 | +3.3% | $79,072 | $76,250 – $123,520 | 790 |
| Indiana | $107,000 | +4.2% | $80,978 | $76,700 – $123,540 | 1,190 |
| New York | $106,990 | −12.1% | $78,825 | $64,580 – $142,310 | 1,960 |
| Montana | $106,040 | +3.3% | $78,799 | $62,840 – $120,560 | 130 |
| Michigan | $105,820 | +1.9% | $79,028 | $74,520 – $131,250 | 1,220 |
| New Mexico | $105,510 | +6.9% | $79,217 | $46,350 – $121,690 | 130 |
| California | $105,210 | −0.3% | $75,923 | $63,510 – $171,800 | 2,610 |
| Illinois | $104,440 | +1.4% | $77,279 | $77,330 – $128,040 | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $104,160 | +6.5% | $80,025 | $69,180 – $119,170 | 730 |
| Delaware | $103,010 | +1.2% | $75,840 | $85,750 – $128,330 | 80 |
| Colorado | $102,780 | +4.3% | $77,322 | $76,900 – $137,720 | 250 |
| Texas | $102,510 | −0.6% | $80,946 | $55,500 – $127,710 | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $102,400 | +7.9% | $77,504 | $65,770 – $125,690 | 450 |
| Missouri | $101,900 | +18.2% | $76,665 | $60,120 – $128,430 | — |
| Louisiana | $101,170 | +7.1% | $77,354 | $62,410 – $123,910 | 370 |
| Iowa | $100,500 | +1.6% | $76,365 | $63,320 – $109,690 | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $100,140 | −1.9% | $74,491 | $68,150 – $130,850 | 880 |
| Wyoming | $99,200 | −5.8% | $78,617 | $82,650 – $119,380 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $98,210 | −0.6% | $74,332 | $65,850 – $125,570 | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $98,050 | −2.8% | $74,748 | $69,570 – $134,120 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $97,760 | +10.0% | $74,004 | $62,000 – $102,650 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $97,460 | +5.6% | $73,608 | $76,110 – $131,410 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $97,210 | +1.0% | $73,467 | $57,180 – $119,990 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,800 | +12.4% | $73,284 | $64,010 – $128,180 | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $94,390 | +7.2% | $70,338 | $72,540 – $125,900 | 970 |
| Florida | $94,290 | +12.2% | $75,163 | $47,840 – $126,330 | 1,640 |
| Kentucky | $93,400 | +7.0% | $71,386 | $66,830 – $118,400 | 690 |
| Alaska | $88,870 | +4.5% | $71,350 | $43,260 – $135,690 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $88,590 | +9.7% | $67,712 | $55,390 – $107,640 | 520 |
| Arizona | $84,970 | −20.7% | $66,691 | $57,560 – $118,910 | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 | +12.0% | $65,863 | $58,010 – $128,510 | 90 |
| Maine | $81,060 | +3.8% | $61,556 | $61,220 – $106,910 | 190 |
| Kansas | $79,980 | −10.8% | $61,433 | $46,580 – $129,990 | 520 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 | +1.7% | $61,403 | $58,880 – $100,200 | 680 |
| Vermont | $78,240 | −20.4% | $61,168 | $49,110 – $127,790 | 140 |
| Virginia | $73,640 | −6.1% | $57,216 | $47,190 – $102,770 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $66,080 | −18.7% | $53,149 | $54,960 – $118,270 | 420 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Distributor and Dispatcher | $106,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.2% |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.0% |
| Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator | $78,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.1% |
| Chemical Plant and System Operator | $78,120 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.2% |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.3% |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator | $60,020 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.7% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.8% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,120 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make?
The national median salary for power plant operators is $102,040 a year ($49.06 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,790 and the top 10% earn over $131,940. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays power plant operators the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $131,620.
How many power plant operators are there in the U.S.?
About 29,320 people work as power plant operators nationwide.