Power Plant Operator: metro pay ranking

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Skilled Trades Headhunters compares published medians for SOC 51-8013 Power Plant Operators, not estimated offers for this particular title.

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.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
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
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$126,190	100	0.64	2.28
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$124,950	90	0.24	1.72
New Haven, CT	$123,840	50	0.89	2.06
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$123,540	640	0.75	2.26
Urban Honolulu, HI	$122,020	170	1.97	2.13
Jacksonville, FL	$119,550	90	0.64	2.45
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$119,380	260	0.48	2.33
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$119,080	120	1.02	2.54
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$117,850	50	0.91	2.45
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$115,920	60	1.13	2.48
Decatur, AL	$115,920	30	2.7	2.50
Knoxville, TN	$115,920	90	1.17	2.46
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$113,540	90	2.13	2.47
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$111,260	230	0.88	1.88
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$110,950	220	1.03	2.36
Kansas City, MO-KS	$110,410	230	1.13	2.17
Columbus, OH	$110,030	130	0.61	2.14
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$109,820	220	1.06	2.19
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$109,090	100	0.49	2.21
Port St. Lucie, FL	$109,090	50	1.7	2.35
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$108,050	300	0.83	2.07
Toledo, OH	$107,440	50	0.83	2.23
Montgomery, AL	$107,080	60	1.98	2.38
Birmingham, AL	$106,990	280	2.84	2.24
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$106,720	240	0.31	2.07
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$106,540	100	2.07	2.31
Omaha, NE-IA	$106,520	80	0.87	2.14
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$105,870	540	0.46	1.90
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$105,740	170	0.63	2.16
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$105,370	80	0.4	2.09
Cedar Rapids, IA	$104,920	40	1.58	2.13
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$104,620	530	0.86	2.12
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$104,440	120	1.39	2.21
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$104,190	110	3.72	2.40
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$104,120	120	0.92	2.15
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$103,900	640	1.26	1.56
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$103,300	150	1.73	1.77
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$103,230	80	1.89	1.96
Terre Haute, IN	$103,030	80	6.74	2.30
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$102,940	30	0.64	2.10
Alexandria, LA	$102,830	40	3.84	2.53
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$102,780	90	0.28	1.65
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$102,240	40	1.45	2.26
Springfield, IL	$102,130	40	2.1	1.94
Lubbock, TX	$101,900	40	1.13	2.42
St. Louis, MO-IL	$101,820	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	2.04
College Station-Bryan, TX	$101,560	40	1.39	2.28
Tulsa, OK	$101,470	100	1.13	2.17
Worcester, MA	$101,420	70	1.09	1.75
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$101,350	310	0.57	1.87
Oklahoma City, OK	$101,140	80	0.66	2.14
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$100,700	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.94
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	$100,300	30	1.23	2.25
Longview, TX	$100,180	120	5.53	2.22
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$99,470	90	0.3	1.69
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$99,020	60	1.25	1.94
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$99,000	470	1.28	1.67
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$98,950	50	0.22	1.18
Bay City, MI	$98,930	50	8.24	2.17
Manhattan, KS	$98,840	70	7.24	2.15
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$98,060	270	0.85	2.03
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$97,800	60	2.43	1.63
El Paso, TX	$97,670	80	1.24	2.47
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$97,640	40	0.75	1.79
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$97,320	80	0.61	1.81
Syracuse, NY	$97,300	290	5.2	1.84
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$96,650	70	0.66	1.61
Anchorage, AK	$96,630	150	4.4	1.61
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$95,780	50	0.69	1.56
Springfield, MA	$94,860	30	0.83	1.83
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$94,760	200	3.18	2.00
Longview-Kelso, WA	$94,660	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.65
Duluth, MN-WI	$94,390	220	9.35	1.89
Pittsburgh, PA	$93,870	140	0.67	1.89
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$92,320	240	0.4	1.30
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$89,460	50	0.71	1.95
Fairbanks-College, AK	$88,870	60	8.87	1.44
Portland-South Portland, ME	$88,520	70	1.27	1.55
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$86,280	80	0.84	1.70
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$85,350	170	0.71	1.50
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$84,690	290	1.1	1.82
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$84,150	30	0.64	1.73
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$81,580	60	0.68	1.75
Rochester, NY	$80,820	40	0.38	1.58
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$79,900	150	2.05	1.63
Columbia, SC	$79,600	150	1.95	1.71
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$79,450	30	1.46	1.38
Gainesville, FL	$78,890	50	1.84	1.68
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$76,550	30	1.9	1.61
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$75,300	50	0.34	1.47
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$75,140	50	6.46	1.58
Madison, WI	$73,300	100	1.29	1.26
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$71,180	70	0.5	2.42
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.

Where does this trade pay most relative to local wages?

Occupation median divided by the same area's all-occupations median
Area	Wage ratio	Median	Location quotient
Fresno, CA	2.96	$138,930	1.47
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	2.95	$145,510	7.65
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	2.85	$133,140	0.62
Boise City, ID	2.73	$134,050	1.01
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	2.64	$132,030	0.48
Reno, NV	2.60	$129,020	1.15
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	2.54	$119,080	1.02
Alexandria, LA	2.53	$102,830	3.84
Decatur, AL	2.50	$115,920	2.7
Chattanooga, TN-GA	2.48	$115,920	1.13
El Paso, TX	2.47	$97,670	1.24
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	2.47	$113,540	2.13
Knoxville, TN	2.46	$115,920	1.17
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	2.45	$117,850	0.91
Jacksonville, FL	2.45	$119,550	0.64
Lubbock, TX	2.42	$101,900	1.13
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	2.42	$71,180	0.5
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	2.40	$104,190	3.72
Montgomery, AL	2.38	$107,080	1.98
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	2.36	$110,950	1.03
Port St. Lucie, FL	2.35	$109,090	1.7
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	2.33	$119,380	0.48
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	2.31	$106,540	2.07
Terre Haute, IN	2.30	$103,030	6.74
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	2.28	$126,190	0.64
College Station-Bryan, TX	2.28	$101,560	1.39
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	2.26	$102,240	1.45
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	2.26	$137,030	Not published by BLS
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	2.26	$123,540	0.75
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	2.25	$100,300	1.23
Birmingham, AL	2.24	$106,990	2.84
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	2.23	$133,380	1.01
Toledo, OH	2.23	$107,440	0.83
Longview, TX	2.22	$100,180	5.53
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	2.21	$109,090	0.49
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	2.21	$104,440	1.39
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	2.19	$109,820	1.06
Tulsa, OK	2.17	$101,470	1.13
Kansas City, MO-KS	2.17	$110,410	1.13
Bay City, MI	2.17	$98,930	8.24
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	2.16	$105,740	0.63
Manhattan, KS	2.15	$98,840	7.24
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	2.15	$104,120	0.92
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	2.15	$131,770	0.61
Omaha, NE-IA	2.14	$106,520	0.87
Columbus, OH	2.14	$110,030	0.61
Oklahoma City, OK	2.14	$101,140	0.66
Urban Honolulu, HI	2.13	$122,020	1.97
Cedar Rapids, IA	2.13	$104,920	1.58
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	2.12	$104,620	0.86
Stockton-Lodi, CA	2.10	$102,940	0.64
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	2.09	$105,370	0.4
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	2.07	$108,050	0.83
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	2.07	$106,720	0.31
New Haven, CT	2.06	$123,840	0.89
St. Louis, MO-IL	2.04	$101,820	Not published by BLS
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	2.03	$98,060	0.85
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	2.00	$94,760	3.18
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	1.96	$103,230	1.89
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	1.95	$89,460	0.71
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1.94	$100,700	Not published by BLS
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	1.94	$99,020	1.25
Springfield, IL	1.94	$102,130	2.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1.90	$105,870	0.46
Pittsburgh, PA	1.89	$93,870	0.67
Duluth, MN-WI	1.89	$94,390	9.35
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	1.88	$111,260	0.88
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	1.87	$101,350	0.57
Syracuse, NY	1.84	$97,300	5.2
Springfield, MA	1.83	$94,860	0.83
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	1.82	$84,690	1.1
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	1.81	$97,320	0.61
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	1.79	$97,640	0.75
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1.79	$132,600	0.67
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	1.77	$103,300	1.73
Worcester, MA	1.75	$101,420	1.09
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	1.75	$81,580	0.68
Lexington-Fayette, KY	1.73	$84,150	0.64
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	1.72	$124,950	0.24
Columbia, SC	1.71	$79,600	1.95
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	1.70	$86,280	0.84
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	1.69	$99,470	0.3
Gainesville, FL	1.68	$78,890	1.84
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	1.67	$99,000	1.28
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	1.65	$102,780	0.28
Longview-Kelso, WA	1.65	$94,660	Not published by BLS
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	1.63	$97,800	2.43
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	1.63	$79,900	2.05
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	1.61	$76,550	1.9
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	1.61	$96,650	0.66
Anchorage, AK	1.61	$96,630	4.4
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	1.58	$75,140	6.46
Rochester, NY	1.58	$80,820	0.38
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1.56	$103,900	1.26
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	1.56	$95,780	0.69
Portland-South Portland, ME	1.55	$88,520	1.27
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	1.54	$71,070	0.97
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	1.50	$85,350	0.71
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	1.47	$75,300	0.34
Fairbanks-College, AK	1.44	$88,870	8.87
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	1.38	$79,450	1.46
Las Cruces, NM	1.38	$57,980	1.99
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	1.35	$66,500	0.74
Wichita, KS	1.33	$63,240	1.26
Green Bay, WI	1.32	$66,080	1.27
Glens Falls, NY	1.32	$64,580	3.98
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	1.32	$67,580	0.34
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	1.30	$92,320	0.4
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	1.28	$62,080	0.71
Madison, WI	1.26	$73,300	1.29
Savannah, GA	1.25	$59,010	1.14
Richmond, VA	1.24	$63,640	0.51
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	1.18	$98,950	0.22

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.

National percentile table Methodology