SOC 51-8013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Power Plant Operators — Portland
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in Portland, OR is $137,030 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 Portland, OR is $137,030 per year, well above the national median of $102,040. The gap of 34.3% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $109,800 and $143,160. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $103,150 and the ninetieth at $153,790.
Of the 681 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 53rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $103,150 | +1.1% |
| 25th | $109,800 | +7.6% |
| Median (50th) | $137,030 | +34.3% |
| 75th | $143,160 | +40.3% |
| 90th | $153,790 | +50.7% |
| Mean | $128,530 | +26.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Portland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $137,030 buys what $132,524 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 29.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$137,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$132,524US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $137,030 a year, 34.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $103,150 to $153,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Power Plant Operators in Portland, OR?
The median annual wage is $137,030, or $65.88 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 Portland, OR is 34.3% 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 Portland, OR earns more than $153,790 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $103,150 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.
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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