Power Plant Operators Salary
Production Occupations · 29K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$102,040
Median hourly
$49
Average annual
$99,790
Typical range
$61,790–$131,940
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Power Plant Operators is $102,040 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $49 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators..
Most earn between $61,790 and $131,940 a year. There are roughly 29K people employed as power plant operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Power Plant Operators.
- Hourly
- $49.06
- Daily
- $392
- Weekly
- $1,962
- Bi-weekly
- $3,925
- Monthly
- $8,503
- Annual
- $102,040
$102,040 a year is around the 50th percentile for Power Plant Operatorss. The median is $102,040.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$131,620
- 2Nevada$131,400
- 3New Jersey$131,370
- 4Idaho$124,440
- 5North Dakota$122,160
- 6Hawaii$121,700
- 7Tennessee$115,920
- 8Maryland$111,260
- 9Oregon$109,830
- 10North Carolina$108,300
- 11Georgia$107,580
- 12Utah$107,120
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$145,510
- 2Fresno, CA$138,930
- 3Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$137,030
- 4Boise City, ID$134,050
- 5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$133,380
- 6Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$133,140
- 7San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$132,600
- 8Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$132,030
- 9New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$131,770
- 10Reno, NV$129,020
- 11Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$126,190
- 12Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$124,950
Related job titles
Employers advertise Power Plant Operators roles under these titles.
- Auxiliary Operator
- Auxiliary Power Equipment Operator
- Batch Plant Operator
- Biomass Boiler Operator
- Biomass Plant Operator
- Biomass Plant Technician
- Booster Operator
- Booster Plant Operator
- Booster Pump Operator
- Carbon Capture Power Plant Engineer
- Carbon Capture Power Plant Operator
- Carbon Sequestration Plant Engineer
- Carbon Sequestration Plant Operator
- Central Heating Plant Operator
- Centrifugal Chiller Technician
- Chiller Operator
Related occupations
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
- Industrial Production Managers$126,060
- Plant and System Operators, All Other$62,470
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,230
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,620
- Gas Plant Operators$87,820
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians$64,120
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020
What a Power Plant Operators does
- Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
- Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
- Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
- Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
- Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
- Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges.
- Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power.
- Clean work areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Power Plant Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Power Plant Operators is $102,040 ($49 per hour). Pay ranges from about $61,790 at the 10th percentile to $131,940 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Power Plant Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $99,790, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Power Plant Operatorss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $131,620.
- Is Power Plant Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 29K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Power Plant Operators do?
- Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.; Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.; Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms..