Power plant operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:

$43.96 per hour

$91,440 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:

$36.11 per hour

$75,110 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:

$29.12 per hour

$60,560 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:

$23.48 per hour

$48,830 per year

10th percentile

Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:

$20.62 per hour

$42,890 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Power plant operator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
California $95,340
Washington $93,330
Hawaii $92,620
North Dakota $92,350
Maryland $91,770
New York $90,690
New Jersey $88,110
Nevada $87,460
North Carolina $85,980
Montana $85,340
Minnesota $84,830
Oregon $82,500
Colorado $82,030
New Mexico $81,520
Wyoming $81,160
Tennessee $80,970
Massachusetts $80,590
Alabama $79,676
Michigan $78,850
Utah $78,070
Iowa $77,610
Kentucky $76,960
Texas $76,520
Missouri $76,100
Mississippi $75,840
Connecticut $74,880
Nebraska $74,290
Florida $74,250
South Carolina $73,970
Pennsylvania $73,720
Ohio $73,260
Louisiana $72,390
Illinois $71,986
Arkansas $71,710
South Dakota $71,590
Georgia $71,480
Oklahoma $69,900
West Virginia $68,800
Indiana $68,330
Maine $68,110
New Hampshire $66,730
Wisconsin $64,030
Idaho $62,720
Rhode Island $61,010
Vermont $60,560
Virginia $56,200
Alaska $55,620
Kansas $53,020
Puerto Rico $36,800

How do power plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?

Power plant operators earn 13% less than similar careers in Vermont. On average, they make less than industrial production managers but more than tool and die makers.

Career Median Salary
Industrial production manager salary $109K
Biofuels production manager salary $109K
Logistician salary $66K
Occupational health specialist salary $66K
Industrial designer salary $64K
Power plant operator salary $61K
Aircraft mechanic salary $61K
Radio mechanic salary $55K
Non-Destructive testing specialist salary $56K
Tool and die maker salary $54K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)