Longview-Kelso, WA · SOC 51-8013

Power Plant Operators in Longview-Kelso

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$94,660

per year in Longview-Kelso

7% below

National Median

$102,040

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$45.51/hr

median hourly

Employment

N/A

jobs in Longview-Kelso

BLS metro-level wage data places Power Plant Operators pay in Longview-Kelso, WA at a median of $94,660 per year ($45.51/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $102,040, Longview-Kelso pays 7% below, which typically tracks with a lower local cost of living or smaller specialized-employer cluster.

The Longview-Kelso pay distribution spans from $84,290 at the 10th percentile to $135,400 at the 90th — a 1.6× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $85,390 and the 75th at $99,180, so half of Longview-Kelso-based power plant operatorss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Longview-Kelso, WA covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide WA data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in Longview-Kelso

Annual Salary Distribution

$84,290$85,390$94,660$99,180$135,400
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$84,290

25th Percentile

$85,390

Median

$94,660

75th Percentile

$99,180

90th Percentile

$135,400

Top Paying Jobs in Longview-Kelso

Similar Occupations in Longview-Kelso

Other roles inside the Longview-Kelso, WA MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Power Plant Operators make in Longview-Kelso?
The median annual salary for Power Plant Operators in Longview-Kelso, WA is $94,660 ($45.51/hour). The salary range spans from $84,290 at the 10th percentile to $135,400 at the 90th percentile.
Is Longview-Kelso a good place to work as a Power Plant Operators?
Power Plant Operators in Longview-Kelso, WA earns 7% below the national median of $102,040.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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