SOC 51-8013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Power Plant Operators — New Jersey
New Jersey
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in New Jersey is $131,370 per year, well above the national median of $102,040.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in New Jersey is $131,370 per year, well above the national median of $102,040. The gap of 28.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $83,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $131,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $123,130 to $131,770.
Employment stands at 300, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, New Jersey ranks 3rd by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 73rd of 736 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,510 | −18.2% |
| 25th | $123,130 | +20.7% |
| Median (50th) | $131,370 | +28.7% |
| 75th | $131,770 | +29.1% |
| 90th | $131,940 | +29.3% |
| Mean | $120,430 | +18.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $131,370 buys what $120,744 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$131,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$120,744US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $131,370 a year, 28.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,510 to $131,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 300 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 49 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Power Plant Operators in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $131,370, or $63.16 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $102,040, so pay in New Jersey is 28.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in New Jersey earns more than $131,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,510 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 300 jobs in this occupation in New Jersey. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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