The average salary for a power plant operator in the United States is around $92,352 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $92,352.
Wages typically start from $51,483 and go up to $165,664.
55% above national average Updated in 2023
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$79.65 per hour
$165,664 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$60.39 per hour
$125,607 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$44.40 per hour
$92,352 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$32.65 per hour
$67,902 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$24.75 per hour
$51,483 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Power plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,350 |
| Hawaii | $98,680 |
| North Dakota | $98,290 |
| New York | $98,290 |
| Rhode Island | $98,290 |
| New Mexico | $98,190 |
| Idaho | $98,030 |
| Colorado | $97,800 |
| Oregon | $97,470 |
| New Jersey | $96,870 |
| Nebraska | $96,730 |
| Georgia | $95,840 |
| Minnesota | $94,790 |
| Montana | $91,440 |
| Tennessee | $88,460 |
| Michigan | $81,710 |
| Illinois | $81,050 |
| Ohio | $80,850 |
| Utah | $80,850 |
| West Virginia | $80,850 |
| Connecticut | $80,560 |
| Alabama | $80,310 |
| South Dakota | $80,310 |
| Mississippi | $80,100 |
| Indiana | $80,090 |
| Nevada | $79,410 |
| Texas | $79,280 |
| Kentucky | $79,110 |
| Wyoming | $78,910 |
| Oklahoma | $78,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,840 |
| Alaska | $77,740 |
| Massachusetts | $77,520 |
| Missouri | $77,450 |
| Iowa | $77,360 |
| Vermont | $77,360 |
| Kansas | $77,330 |
| Arkansas | $77,170 |
| Florida | $77,030 |
| Louisiana | $77,030 |
| Maine | $72,050 |
| South Carolina | $67,100 |
| Virginia | $63,500 |
| North Carolina | $62,890 |
| New Hampshire | $62,890 |
| Wisconsin | $61,510 |
| Arizona | $51,990 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,290 |
| Washington | $104,110 |
| Maryland | $100,780 |
How do power plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Power plant operators earn 16% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than elevator mechanics but more than millwrights.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Elevator mechanic salary | $104K |
| Power plant operator salary | $92K |
| Aviation inspector salary | $78K |
| Boilermaker salary | $70K |
| Manufacturing engineer salary | $75K |
| Millwright salary | $66K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)