51 Series · SOC 51-8012

Power Distributors and Dispatchers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$106,730
Median / year
$154,270
Top 10% earn
-3.2%
Growth '23–'33
8,520
US workers

Power Distributors and Dispatchers earn a median of $106,730 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $106,730, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $72,440 (10th percentile) to $154,270 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,520 US workers. Washington pays the most ($144,710), since pay varies by state and metro area.

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Power Distributors and Dispatchers earn a median of $106,730, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 88% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #2 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.2% by 2033.

$106,730
Median annual wage
Top 12%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#2 of 105
in Production
2.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Washington at $144,710. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Power Distributors and Dispatchers (SOC 51-8012) pays a national median of $106,730 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $72,440 at the 10th percentile to $154,270 at the 90th, with a mean of $111,320 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,520 Americans work in this occupation across 38 reporting states and 41 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and long-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $144,710, which is +36% above the national figure. The top metro is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $173,120 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 8,520 jobs Median $106,730/yr

Median Salary

$106,730

per year

Median Hourly

$51.31/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$111,320

average

Employment

8,520

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Power Distributors and Dispatchers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$106,730 Top 12% higher than 88% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Power Distributors and Dispatchers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Power Distributors and Dispatchers sits on the slower-growing side at -3.2% growth and $106,730 median pay.

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Power Distributors and Dispatchers sits on the slower-growing side at -3.2% growth and $106,730 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Power Distributors and Dispatchers sits on the slower-growing side at -3.2% growth and $106,730 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-3.2%

Declining

Annual Openings

800

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Long-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
B

Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Power Distributors and Dispatchers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.6
Active Listening 3.6
Critical Thinking 3.6
Monitoring 3.6
Speaking 3.5
Complex Problem Solving 3.3
Operations Monitoring 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3
Writing 3.1
Operation and Control 3.1

Knowledge Areas

English Language 3.9
Public Safety and Security 3.7
Mathematics 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Telecommunications 3.5
Engineering and Technology 3.5
Customer and Personal Service 3.4
Mechanical 3.3
Education and Training 3.2
Physics 3.1

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Coordinate with engineers, planners, field personnel, or other utility workers to provide information such as clearances, switching orders, or distribution process changes.
  • ▸ Respond to emergencies, such as transformer or transmission line failures, and route current around affected areas.
  • ▸ Control, monitor, or operate equipment that regulates or distributes electricity or steam, using data obtained from instruments or computers.
  • ▸ Direct personnel engaged in controlling or operating distribution equipment or machinery, such as instructing control room operators to start boilers or generators.
  • ▸ Distribute or regulate the flow of power between entities, such as generating stations, substations, distribution lines, or users, keeping track of the status of circuits or connections.
  • ▸ Manipulate controls to adjust or activate power distribution equipment or machines.
  • ▸ Prepare switching orders that will isolate work areas without causing power outages, referring to drawings of power systems.
  • ▸ Monitor and record switchboard or control board readings to ensure that electrical or steam distribution equipment is operating properly.
  • ▸ Implement energy schedules, including real-time transmission reservations or schedules.
  • ▸ Calculate load estimates or equipment requirements to determine required control settings.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$72,440$90,200$106,730$130,940$154,270
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$34.83$43.37$51.31$62.95$74.17
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$72,440

25th Percentile

$90,200

Median

$106,730

75th Percentile

$130,940

90th Percentile

$154,270

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Washington $144,710 2. New York $139,390 3. Nevada $138,300 4. California $137,570 5. Oregon $137,490

Lowest Paying States

34. New Mexico $79,580 35. Tennessee $79,910 36. Georgia $80,560 37. Virginia $81,080 38. Wisconsin $83,140
View all 38 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Washington $144,710 +36% above national
2 New York $139,390 +31% above national
3 Nevada $138,300 +30% above national
4 California $137,570 +29% above national
5 Oregon $137,490 +29% above national
6 Idaho $136,550 +28% above national
7 South Dakota $130,270 +22% above national
8 Indiana $129,080 +21% above national
9 New Jersey $128,220 +20% above national
10 Maine $121,520 +14% above national
11 Massachusetts $121,010 +13% above national
12 Wyoming $120,210 +13% above national
13 Arkansas $117,370 +10% above national
14 Kansas $116,810 +9% above national
15 Michigan $116,780 +9% above national
16 Alabama $114,570 +7% above national
17 Maryland $113,660 +6% above national
18 Minnesota $105,630 1% below national
19 Kentucky $105,600 1% below national
20 Oklahoma $105,530 1% below national
21 Missouri $105,450 1% below national
22 Iowa $102,980 4% below national
23 Texas $102,890 4% below national
24 West Virginia $101,960 4% below national
25 Illinois $101,470 5% below national
26 Florida $101,060 5% below national
27 Ohio $100,320 6% below national
28 Mississippi $98,960 7% below national
29 Pennsylvania $98,930 7% below national
30 Nebraska $98,570 8% below national
31 Arizona $98,510 8% below national
32 South Carolina $91,570 14% below national
33 North Carolina $90,420 15% below national
34 Wisconsin $83,140 22% below national
35 Virginia $81,080 24% below national
36 Georgia $80,560 25% below national
37 Tennessee $79,910 25% below national
38 New Mexico $79,580 25% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $173,120 2. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $169,920 3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $160,570 4. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $155,690 5. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $140,660

Lowest Paying Metros

37. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $75,660 38. Knoxville, TN $77,440 39. Champaign-Urbana, IL $80,800 40. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $81,080 41. St. Louis, MO-IL $85,470
View all 41 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $173,120 +62% above national
2 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $169,920 +59% above national
3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $160,570 +50% above national
4 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $155,690 +46% above national
5 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $140,660 +32% above national
6 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $138,300 +30% above national
7 Birmingham, AL $138,260 +30% above national
8 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $134,250 +26% above national
9 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $132,530 +24% above national
10 Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $128,690 +21% above national
11 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $127,180 +19% above national
12 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $124,140 +16% above national
13 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $111,450 +4% above national
14 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $110,970 +4% above national
15 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $109,150 +2% above national
16 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $108,590 +2% above national
17 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $106,730 same as national
18 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $105,620 1% below national
19 Kansas City, MO-KS $105,450 1% below national
20 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $103,670 3% below national
21 Columbus, OH $102,760 4% below national
22 Worcester, MA $102,330 4% below national
23 Richmond, VA $102,220 4% below national
24 Pittsburgh, PA $102,170 4% below national
25 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $101,570 5% below national
26 Columbia, SC $101,010 5% below national
27 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $100,320 6% below national
28 Cleveland, OH $99,650 7% below national
29 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $99,610 7% below national
30 South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $99,520 7% below national
31 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $98,800 7% below national
32 Omaha, NE-IA $98,570 8% below national
33 Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $97,680 8% below national
34 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $93,620 12% below national
35 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $88,150 17% below national
36 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $86,300 19% below national
37 St. Louis, MO-IL $85,470 20% below national
38 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $81,080 24% below national
39 Champaign-Urbana, IL $80,800 24% below national
40 Knoxville, TN $77,440 27% below national
41 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $75,660 29% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.

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Compare Power Distributors and Dispatchers side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Power Distributors and Dispatchers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Power Distributors and Dispatchers is $106,730 ($51.31/hour). The salary range spans from $72,440 at the 10th percentile to $154,270 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Power Distributors and Dispatchers the most? ▼
Washington pays the highest median salary for Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $144,710/year, which is +36% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Power Distributors and Dispatchers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Power Distributors and Dispatchers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Power Distributors and Dispatchers? ▼
Power Distributors and Dispatchers has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Power Distributors and Dispatchers a good career? ▼
Employment for Power Distributors and Dispatchers is projected to decline 3.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 800 openings are projected each year.
How does Power Distributors and Dispatchers pay vary by state? ▼
Power Distributors and Dispatchers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $144,710/year, while Wisconsin pays the least at $83,140/year. BLS data covers 38 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Power Distributors and Dispatchers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Power Distributors and Dispatchers is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $173,120/year. BLS reports wage data for 41 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Power Distributors and Dispatchers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $130,940/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $144,710/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.