SOC 51-8013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Power Plant Operators — New York
New York · 8 metro areas compared
At $106,990, median pay for Power Plant Operators in New York tracks the national median of $102,040 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $106,990, median pay for Power Plant Operators in New York tracks the national median of $102,040 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $83,060 and $133,620. The lowest tenth earn under $64,580, while the highest tenth earn more than $142,310.
Employment stands at 1,960, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, New York ranks 15th by median wage. New York leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $131,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 132nd of 776 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,580 | −36.7% |
| 25th | $83,060 | −18.6% |
| Median (50th) | $106,990 | +4.9% |
| 75th | $133,620 | +30.9% |
| 90th | $142,310 | +39.5% |
| Mean | $108,880 | +6.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $131,770 | 1,090 | |
| 2 | Albany | $103,300 | 150 | |
| 3 | Kiryas Joel | $99,020 | 60 | |
| 4 | Syracuse | $97,300 | 290 | |
| 5 | Buffalo | $86,280 | 80 | |
| 6 | Rochester | $80,820 | 40 | |
| 7 | Watertown | $75,140 | 50 | |
| 8 | Glens Falls | $64,580 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $106,990 buys what $99,157 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$106,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$99,157US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $106,990 a year, 4.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,580 to $142,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,960 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 15th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $131,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Power Plant Operators in New York?
The median annual wage is $106,990, or $51.44 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 York is 4.9% 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 York earns more than $142,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,580 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in New York, at $131,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,960 jobs in this occupation in New York. 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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