SOC 51-8013 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Power Plant Operators — Watertown
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in Watertown, NY is $75,140 per year, substantially below the national median of $102,040 — a gap of 26.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Power Plant Operators in Watertown, NY is $75,140 per year, substantially below the national median of $102,040 — a gap of 26.4%. Half of workers earn between $59,860 and $97,870. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $46,330 and the ninetieth at $131,870.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, New York records the highest median at $131,770. Of the 199 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 54th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,330 | −54.6% |
| 25th | $59,860 | −41.3% |
| Median (50th) | $75,140 | −26.4% |
| 75th | $97,870 | −4.1% |
| 90th | $131,870 | +29.2% |
| Mean | $79,290 | −22.3% |
Other 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 | Glens Falls | $64,580 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Watertown run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $75,140 buys what $69,639 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 31.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$75,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,639US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $75,140 a year, 26.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,330 to $131,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in 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 Watertown, NY?
The median annual wage is $75,140, or $36.13 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 Watertown, NY is 26.4% 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 Watertown, NY earns more than $131,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,330 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 50 jobs in this occupation in Watertown, NY. 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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