SOC 51-8013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Power Plant Operators — Virginia
Virginia · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in Virginia is $73,640 per year, substantially below the national median of $102,040 — a gap of 27.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in Virginia is $73,640 per year, substantially below the national median of $102,040 — a gap of 27.8%. Half of workers earn between $59,260 and $94,180. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $47,190 and the ninetieth at $102,770.
The area has 590 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Virginia ranks number 48th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Virginia Beach records the highest median at $66,500. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 266th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,190 | −53.8% |
| 25th | $59,260 | −41.9% |
| Median (50th) | $73,640 | −27.8% |
| 75th | $94,180 | −7.7% |
| 90th | $102,770 | +0.7% |
| Mean | $74,290 | −27.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | $66,500 | 110 | |
| 2 | Richmond | $63,640 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $73,640 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$73,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,839US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,640 a year, 27.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,190 to $102,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 590 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Virginia Beach, at $66,500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Power Plant Operators in Virginia?
The median annual wage is $73,640, or $35.41 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 Virginia is 27.8% lower. 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 Virginia earns more than $102,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,190 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 Virginia Beach, at $66,500 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 590 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. 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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