Power Plant Operator Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Power Plant Operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $105,870 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,317 take-home, or $6,360 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median power plant operator salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,461
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,564
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,535
- California income tax$5,616
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,376
- Take-home pay$76,317
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Power Plant Operator pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,140 | $35.16 | $56,694 | $4,725 |
| 25th percentile | $85,620 | $41.16 | $64,218 | $5,351 |
| Median (50th) | $105,870 | $50.90 | $76,317 | $6,360 |
| 75th percentile | $125,730 | $60.45 | $88,105 | $7,342 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,040 | $64.44 | $92,904 | $7,742 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,870 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median power plant operator's $76,317 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,200 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Power Plant Operator jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.46), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for power plant operators, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $123,540 | $89,735 | $86,621 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $131,770 | $94,597 | $84,039 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $104,620 | $82,430 | $83,576 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $103,900 | $76,949 | $71,074 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $99,000 | $73,268 | $69,897 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,870 | $76,317 | $67,200 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median power plant operator salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $105,870 a year, or about $50.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,620 and $125,730.
What is a power plant operator’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $105,870 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $76,317 a year ($6,360 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,993 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a power plant operator?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $102,040. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,200 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a power plant operator afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median power plant operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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