SOC 51-8013 · May 2025 · United States
Power Plant Operators
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Power Plant Operators across the United States is $102,040 per year, measured over 29,320 jobs. The highest state median is in Washington, at $131,620.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -11.2%
- Openings per year
- 2,500
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Power Plant Operators
Pay for this occupation varies by 99.2% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Washington pays $131,620 and Wisconsin pays $66,080.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $131,620 | 430 | |
| 2 | Nevada | $131,400 | 250 | |
| 3 | New Jersey | $131,370 | 300 | |
| 4 | Idaho | $124,440 | 310 | |
| 5 | North Dakota | $122,160 | 150 | |
| 6 | Hawaii | $121,700 | 290 | |
| 7 | Tennessee | $115,920 | 490 | |
| 8 | Maryland | $111,260 | 330 | |
| 9 | Oregon | $109,830 | 250 | |
| 10 | North Carolina | $108,300 | 420 |
States with the most Power Plant Operators jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,610 | $105,210 | |
| 2 | Texas | 2,100 | $102,510 | |
| 3 | New York | 1,960 | $106,990 | |
| 4 | Florida | 1,640 | $94,290 | |
| 5 | Michigan | 1,220 | $105,820 | |
| 6 | Indiana | 1,190 | $107,000 | |
| 7 | Illinois | 1,160 | $104,440 | |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 1,010 | $95,800 | |
| 9 | Minnesota | 970 | $94,390 | |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 880 | $100,140 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wenatchee | $145,510 | 70 |
| 2 | Fresno | $138,930 | 130 |
| 3 | Portland | $137,030 | — |
| 4 | Boise City | $134,050 | 70 |
| 5 | Sacramento | $133,380 | 210 |
| 6 | Las Vegas | $133,140 | 130 |
| 7 | San Francisco | $132,600 | 300 |
| 8 | Charlotte | $132,030 | 120 |
| 9 | New York | $131,770 | 1,090 |
| 10 | Reno | $129,020 | 60 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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