Power Plant Operator Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in the United States was $102,040 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers in this occupation and area earned between $79,690 and $119,080.
Direct match Our title "Power Plant Operator" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-8013 Power Plant Operators. BLS reports this occupation as Power Plant Operators. A license or specialty is still checked separately.
Annual wages: Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013)
Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013), the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $61,790, half earned less than the median of $102,040, 90% earned less than $131,940 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,790 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $79,690 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $102,040 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $119,080 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $131,940 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $99,790 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages: Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013)
Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013), the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $29.71, half earned less than the median of $49.06, 90% earned less than $63.44 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29.71 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $38.31 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $49.06 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $57.25 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $63.44 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $47.97 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 29,320 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8013 Power Plant Operators, National.
What BLS wages measure. OEWS estimates describe straight-time gross wages, not just base salary and not total compensation. They include commissions and production bonuses. They exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. Discuss travel, per diem, tool and truck allowances separately. Percentiles describe the occupation's wage distribution, not seniority, plant size, job complexity or credentials. Licensing, union agreements and prevailing-wage obligations depend on the work and assignment; these figures do not establish a premium for them.
Official BLS wage definitions | Source dates and methodology
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
New York City and Northern New Jersey share the New York-Newark-Jersey City BLS area and one estimate, shown once below.
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,080 | $47,840 to $107,590 | 380 | 0.71 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $105,740 | $101,950 to $124,980 | 170 | 0.63 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $84,690 | $68,050 to $104,630 | 290 | 1.1 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | Not published by BLS for this area. North Carolina annual median: $108,300. | |||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $131,770 | $103,570 to $137,340 | 1,090 | 0.61 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $106,720 | $79,860 to $127,710 | 240 | 0.31 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $104,620 | $62,710 to $121,440 | 530 | 0.86 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $123,540 | $107,600 to $127,890 | 640 | 0.75 |
How does Power Plant Operator pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 51-8013, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $105,210 | Annual | 20,400 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $105,210 | Annual | 20,400 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $104,970 | Annual | 19,690 |
| Construction | 23 | $80,270 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $68,960 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $74,160 | Annual | 680 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $75,170 | Annual | 350 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $75,170 | Annual | 350 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327000 | $38,440 | Annual | 40 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $79,420 | Annual | 100 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $79,420 | Annual | 90 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $66,500 | Annual | 70 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $79,690 | Annual | 880 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $79,690 | Annual | 880 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $54,710 | Annual | 590 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $102,590 | Annual | 100 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541900 | $79,690 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $81,420 | Annual | 480 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $81,420 | Annual | 480 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Solar Site Foreman (47-1011)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Power Plant Operators. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $145,510 | 70 | 7.65 | 2.95 |
| Fresno, CA | $138,930 | 130 | 1.47 | 2.96 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $137,030 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 2.26 |
| Boise City, ID | $134,050 | 70 | 1.01 | 2.73 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,380 | 210 | 1.01 | 2.23 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $133,140 | 130 | 0.62 | 2.85 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,600 | 300 | 0.67 | 1.79 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $132,030 | 120 | 0.48 | 2.64 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $131,770 | 1,090 | 0.61 | 2.15 |
| Reno, NV | $129,020 | 60 | 1.15 | 2.60 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $71,070 | 30 | 0.97 | 1.54 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,580 | 150 | 0.34 | 1.32 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,500 | 110 | 0.74 | 1.35 |
| Green Bay, WI | $66,080 | 40 | 1.27 | 1.32 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $64,580 | 40 | 3.98 | 1.32 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,640 | 60 | 0.51 | 1.24 |
| Wichita, KS | $63,240 | 70 | 1.26 | 1.33 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,080 | 380 | 0.71 | 1.28 |
| Savannah, GA | $59,010 | 40 | 1.14 | 1.25 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $57,980 | 30 | 1.99 | 1.38 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator), the published median for SOC 51-8013, Power Plant Operators, is $102,040 per year. The middle half of the Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) wage distribution runs from $79,690 to $119,080, a width of $39,390 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) comparison used for Power Plant Operator, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $131,770 per year while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $103,900 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) reference for Power Plant Operator pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Power Plant Operators, read alongside Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator), are Utilities at $105,210 per year (NAICS 22); Utilities at $105,210 per year (NAICS 221000); Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $104,970 per year (NAICS 221100). Those Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) median was $99,670 per year in May 2024, compared with $102,040 in May 2025, a published difference of $2,370. That Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $99,670 and $102,040 Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before using $102,040 per year from Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) to calibrate an offer, separate overtime, per diem, lodging and mobilization separately; prevailing wage obligations and union scale depend on the assignment and agreement, not a special BLS traveling-worker percentile. The Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) BLS comparison measures straight-time gross wages, including commissions and production bonuses, but excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) is direct: BLS reports this occupation as Power Plant Operators; A license or specialty is still checked separately. For a Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) opening, establish the equipment, license requirements and responsibility before deciding which people the pay range should attract. The Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) direct mapping still describes an occupation and area rather than a specific applicant, so credentials and actual duties remain part of offer calibration.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) buyer?
Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) has a published middle-half band of $79,690 to $119,080, a width of $39,390 per year, with median $102,040. An offer inside that Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator)?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator). Comparing those Power Plant Operators tables with the $102,040 Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator)?
Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) uses national industry rows for SOC 51-8013, not local sector-specific wages. Utilities leads the selected sortable rows at $105,210 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator).
What changed between the releases for Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator)?
Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) moved from $99,670 in May 2024 to $102,040 in May 2025. These Power Plant Operators (SOC 51-8013) in National (reference for Power Plant Operator) published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 51-8013. Published annual median: $99,670 (May 2024) and $102,040 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.