51 Series · SOC 51-8013
Power Plant Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $102,040
- Median / year
- $131,940
- Top 10% earn
- -11.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 29,320
- US workers
Power Plant Operators earn a median of $102,040 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $102,040, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $61,790 (10th percentile) to $131,940 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 29,320 US workers. Washington pays the most ($131,620), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Power Plant Operators earn a median of $102,040, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 85% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #3 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 11.2% by 2033.
- $102,040
- Median annual wage
- Top 15%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #3 of 105
- in Production
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $131,620. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) pays a national median of $102,040 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $61,790 at the 10th percentile to $131,940 at the 90th, with a mean of $99,790 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 29,320 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 168 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -11.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,500 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 $131,620, which is +29% above the national figure. The top metro is Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA at $145,510 - 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.
Median Salary
$102,040
per year
Median Hourly
$49.06/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$99,790
average
Employment
29,320
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Power Plant Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$102,040 Top 15% higher than 85% of 825 US occupations
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 Plant Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Power Plant Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -11.2% growth and $102,040 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-11.2%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,500
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 →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 Plant Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
- ▸ Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
- ▸ Perform tests of water chemistry in boilers.
- ▸ Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
- ▸ Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
- ▸ Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
- ▸ Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
- ▸ Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
- ▸ 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.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$61,790
25th Percentile
$79,690
Median
$102,040
75th Percentile
$119,080
90th Percentile
$131,940
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $131,620 | +29% above national |
| 2 | Nevada | $131,400 | +29% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $131,370 | +29% above national |
| 4 | Idaho | $124,440 | +22% above national |
| 5 | North Dakota | $122,160 | +20% above national |
| 6 | Hawaii | $121,700 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Tennessee | $115,920 | +14% above national |
| 8 | Maryland | $111,260 | +9% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $109,830 | +8% above national |
| 10 | North Carolina | $108,300 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Georgia | $107,580 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Utah | $107,120 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Alabama | $107,080 | +5% above national |
| 14 | Indiana | $107,000 | +5% above national |
| 15 | New York | $106,990 | +5% above national |
| 16 | Montana | $106,040 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Michigan | $105,820 | +4% above national |
| 18 | New Mexico | $105,510 | +3% above national |
| 19 | California | $105,210 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Illinois | $104,440 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Ohio | $104,160 | +2% above national |
| 22 | Delaware | $103,010 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Colorado | $102,780 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Texas | $102,510 | same as national |
| 25 | Mississippi | $102,400 | same as national |
| 26 | Missouri | $101,900 | same as national |
| 27 | Louisiana | $101,170 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Iowa | $100,500 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $100,140 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Wyoming | $99,200 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Nebraska | $98,210 | 4% below national |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $98,050 | 4% below national |
| 33 | Arkansas | $97,760 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Connecticut | $97,460 | 4% below national |
| 35 | West Virginia | $97,210 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $95,800 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Minnesota | $94,390 | 7% below national |
| 38 | Florida | $94,290 | 8% below national |
| 39 | Kentucky | $93,400 | 8% below national |
| 40 | Alaska | $88,870 | 13% below national |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $88,590 | 13% below national |
| 42 | Arizona | $84,970 | 17% below national |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $81,070 | 21% below national |
| 44 | Maine | $81,060 | 21% below national |
| 45 | Kansas | $79,980 | 22% below national |
| 46 | South Carolina | $79,900 | 22% below national |
| 47 | Vermont | $78,240 | 23% below national |
| 48 | Virginia | $73,640 | 28% below national |
| 49 | Puerto Rico | $70,640 | 31% below national |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $66,080 | 35% below national |
| 51 | Guam | $61,230 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 168 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $145,510 | +43% above national |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $138,930 | +36% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $137,030 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Boise City, ID | $134,050 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,380 | +31% above national |
| 6 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $133,140 | +30% above national |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,600 | +30% above national |
| 8 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $132,030 | +29% above national |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $131,770 | +29% above national |
| 10 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $129,270 | +27% above national |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $129,020 | +26% above national |
| 12 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $126,190 | +24% above national |
| 13 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $125,710 | +23% above national |
| 14 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $125,690 | +23% above national |
| 15 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $124,950 | +22% above national |
| 16 | New Haven, CT | $123,840 | +21% above national |
| 17 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $123,540 | +21% above national |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $122,020 | +20% above national |
| 19 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $120,790 | +18% above national |
| 20 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $120,700 | +18% above national |
| 21 | Jacksonville, FL | $119,550 | +17% above national |
| 22 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $119,380 | +17% above national |
| 23 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $119,080 | +17% above national |
| 24 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $117,850 | +15% above national |
| 25 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $115,920 | +14% above national |
| 26 | Decatur, AL | $115,920 | +14% above national |
| 27 | Knoxville, TN | $115,920 | +14% above national |
| 28 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $114,790 | +12% above national |
| 29 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $113,610 | +11% above national |
| 30 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $113,540 | +11% above national |
| 31 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $113,030 | +11% above national |
| 32 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $111,260 | +9% above national |
| 33 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $110,950 | +9% above national |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $110,410 | +8% above national |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $110,030 | +8% above national |
| 36 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $109,820 | +8% above national |
| 37 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $109,090 | +7% above national |
| 38 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $109,090 | +7% above national |
| 39 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $108,370 | +6% above national |
| 40 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,050 | +6% above national |
| 41 | Toledo, OH | $107,440 | +5% above national |
| 42 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $107,280 | +5% above national |
| 43 | Montgomery, AL | $107,080 | +5% above national |
| 44 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $107,000 | +5% above national |
| 45 | Birmingham, AL | $106,990 | +5% above national |
| 46 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $106,720 | +5% above national |
| 47 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $106,540 | +4% above national |
| 48 | Omaha, NE-IA | $106,520 | +4% above national |
| 49 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $106,040 | +4% above national |
| 50 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,870 | +4% above national |
| 51 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $105,740 | +4% above national |
| 52 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $105,600 | +3% above national |
| 53 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $105,370 | +3% above national |
| 54 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $104,920 | +3% above national |
| 55 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $104,620 | +3% above national |
| 56 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $104,440 | +2% above national |
| 57 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $104,190 | +2% above national |
| 58 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $104,120 | +2% above national |
| 59 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $103,900 | +2% above national |
| 60 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $103,580 | +2% above national |
| 61 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $103,520 | +1% above national |
| 62 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $103,300 | +1% above national |
| 63 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $103,230 | +1% above national |
| 64 | Terre Haute, IN | $103,030 | +1% above national |
| 65 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,940 | +1% above national |
| 66 | Alexandria, LA | $102,830 | +1% above national |
| 67 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $102,780 | +1% above national |
| 68 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $102,640 | +1% above national |
| 69 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $102,240 | same as national |
| 70 | Springfield, IL | $102,130 | same as national |
| 71 | Lubbock, TX | $101,900 | same as national |
| 72 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $101,820 | same as national |
| 73 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $101,560 | same as national |
| 74 | Tulsa, OK | $101,470 | 1% below national |
| 75 | Worcester, MA | $101,420 | 1% below national |
| 76 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,350 | 1% below national |
| 77 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $101,230 | 1% below national |
| 78 | Oklahoma City, OK | $101,140 | 1% below national |
| 79 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $100,700 | 1% below national |
| 80 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $100,300 | 2% below national |
| 81 | Longview, TX | $100,180 | 2% below national |
| 82 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $99,570 | 2% below national |
| 83 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,470 | 3% below national |
| 84 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $99,370 | 3% below national |
| 85 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $99,020 | 3% below national |
| 86 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $99,000 | 3% below national |
| 87 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98,950 | 3% below national |
| 88 | Bay City, MI | $98,930 | 3% below national |
| 89 | Manhattan, KS | $98,840 | 3% below national |
| 90 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $98,210 | 4% below national |
| 91 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,060 | 4% below national |
| 92 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $97,900 | 4% below national |
| 93 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $97,800 | 4% below national |
| 94 | El Paso, TX | $97,670 | 4% below national |
| 95 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $97,640 | 4% below national |
| 96 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $97,320 | 5% below national |
| 97 | Syracuse, NY | $97,300 | 5% below national |
| 98 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $96,940 | 5% below national |
| 99 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $96,650 | 5% below national |
| 100 | Anchorage, AK | $96,630 | 5% below national |
| 101 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $96,300 | 6% below national |
| 102 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $95,780 | 6% below national |
| 103 | Springfield, MA | $94,860 | 7% below national |
| 104 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $94,760 | 7% below national |
| 105 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $94,660 | 7% below national |
| 106 | Duluth, MN-WI | $94,390 | 7% below national |
| 107 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $94,090 | 8% below national |
| 108 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $94,010 | 8% below national |
| 109 | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,870 | 8% below national |
| 110 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $93,540 | 8% below national |
| 111 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $93,400 | 8% below national |
| 112 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,320 | 10% below national |
| 113 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $89,920 | 12% below national |
| 114 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $89,460 | 12% below national |
| 115 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $88,960 | 13% below national |
| 116 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $88,870 | 13% below national |
| 117 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $88,520 | 13% below national |
| 118 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $87,790 | 14% below national |
| 119 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $87,650 | 14% below national |
| 120 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $87,050 | 15% below national |
| 121 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $86,740 | 15% below national |
| 122 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $86,440 | 15% below national |
| 123 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $86,280 | 15% below national |
| 124 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $85,900 | 16% below national |
| 125 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $85,350 | 16% below national |
| 126 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $84,690 | 17% below national |
| 127 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $84,150 | 18% below national |
| 128 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $82,220 | 19% below national |
| 129 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $81,950 | 20% below national |
| 130 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $81,780 | 20% below national |
| 131 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,580 | 20% below national |
| 132 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $81,300 | 20% below national |
| 133 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $81,280 | 20% below national |
| 134 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $81,210 | 20% below national |
| 135 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $81,140 | 20% below national |
| 136 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $80,960 | 21% below national |
| 137 | Rochester, NY | $80,820 | 21% below national |
| 138 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $80,240 | 21% below national |
| 139 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $79,900 | 22% below national |
| 140 | Columbia, SC | $79,600 | 22% below national |
| 141 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $79,550 | 22% below national |
| 142 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $79,450 | 22% below national |
| 143 | Gainesville, FL | $78,890 | 23% below national |
| 144 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $76,900 | 25% below national |
| 145 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $76,550 | 25% below national |
| 146 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $76,500 | 25% below national |
| 147 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $75,710 | 26% below national |
| 148 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $75,300 | 26% below national |
| 149 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $75,140 | 26% below national |
| 150 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $74,670 | 27% below national |
| 151 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $74,660 | 27% below national |
| 152 | Madison, WI | $73,300 | 28% below national |
| 153 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $71,180 | 30% below national |
| 154 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $71,070 | 30% below national |
| 155 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,580 | 34% below national |
| 156 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,500 | 35% below national |
| 157 | Green Bay, WI | $66,080 | 35% below national |
| 158 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $65,530 | 36% below national |
| 159 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $64,810 | 36% below national |
| 160 | Glens Falls, NY | $64,580 | 37% below national |
| 161 | Richmond, VA | $63,640 | 38% below national |
| 162 | Wichita, KS | $63,240 | 38% below national |
| 163 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,080 | 39% below national |
| 164 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $61,840 | 39% below national |
| 165 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $60,420 | 41% below national |
| 166 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $59,240 | 42% below national |
| 167 | Savannah, GA | $59,010 | 42% below national |
| 168 | Las Cruces, NM | $57,980 | 43% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Power Plant Operators make? ▼
What state pays Power Plant Operators the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Power Plant Operators? ▼
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How does Power Plant Operators pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Power Plant Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $119,080/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 $131,620/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.
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.