Energy0% remote-eligible+0.5% YoY growth

Power Plant Operator Salary
by City (2026)

Control and monitor the systems that generate electricity at a power plant. National median: $97K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$97K

Top 10% earn

$138K

Entry level

$72K

Salary growth

+0.5%/yr

Power Plant Operator salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$94K	$126K	$156K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$92K	$124K	$154K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$89K	$119K	$148K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$88K	$119K	$147K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$88K	$119K	$147K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$88K	$118K	$146K	185	9.3%
Houston, TX	$86K	$116K	$144K	91	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$86K	$116K	$144K	175	None ✓
Washington, DC	$86K	$116K	$144K	152	8.5%
Irvine, CA	$86K	$115K	$143K	172	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$85K	$114K	$142K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$85K	$114K	$142K	162	5%
Anchorage, AK	$85K	$114K	$142K	128	None ✓
Yonkers, NY	$84K	$113K	$140K	165	6.85%
Kirkland, WA	$84K	$113K	$139K	162	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$84K	$113K	$140K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$83K	$112K	$138K	163	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$83K	$112K	$138K	148	9.3%
Denver, CO	$83K	$112K	$138K	118	4.55%
Arlington, VA	$83K	$112K	$138K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$83K	$112K	$138K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$83K	$112K	$138K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$82K	$111K	$137K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$81K	$110K	$135K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$81K	$109K	$135K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$81K	$109K	$135K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$81K	$109K	$134K	155	10.75%
Alexandria, VA	$80K	$108K	$134K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$80K	$108K	$134K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$79K	$107K	$132K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$79K	$107K	$132K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$79K	$107K	$132K	130	9.9%
Paterson, NJ	$79K	$107K	$132K	140	10.75%
Honolulu, HI	$79K	$107K	$132K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$79K	$106K	$132K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$79K	$106K	$132K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$79K	$106K	$132K	138	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$78K	$105K	$130K	96	None ✓
Austin, TX	$78K	$105K	$130K	110	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$78K	$105K	$130K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$78K	$105K	$130K	105	4.85%
Fort Worth, TX	$76K	$102K	$126K	93	None ✓
Plano, TX	$76K	$102K	$126K	105	None ✓
Irving, TX	$76K	$102K	$126K	97	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$76K	$102K	$126K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$76K	$102K	$126K	128	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$76K	$102K	$126K	112	4.55%
Philadelphia, PA	$76K	$102K	$126K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$76K	$102K	$126K	106	6.8%
Provo, UT	$76K	$102K	$126K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$76K	$102K	$126K	88	5%
Baltimore, MD	$76K	$102K	$126K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$76K	$102K	$126K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$76K	$102K	$126K	118	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$75K	$101K	$126K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$75K	$101K	$125K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$74K	$100K	$124K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$73K	$99K	$122K	94	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$73K	$99K	$122K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$73K	$99K	$122K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$74K	$99K	$123K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$73K	$99K	$122K	118	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$74K	$99K	$123K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$73K	$99K	$122K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$73K	$99K	$122K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$73K	$99K	$122K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$74K	$99K	$123K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$73K	$99K	$122K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$73K	$99K	$122K	110	9.9%
Oklahoma City, OK	$73K	$99K	$122K	82	4.75%
Round Rock, TX	$73K	$98K	$122K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$73K	$98K	$122K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$73K	$98K	$122K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$73K	$98K	$122K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$73K	$98K	$122K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$73K	$98K	$122K	108	6.6%
Garland, TX	$72K	$97K	$120K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$72K	$97K	$120K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$72K	$97K	$120K	105	9.3%
Phoenix, AZ	$72K	$97K	$120K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$72K	$97K	$120K	105	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$72K	$97K	$120K	102	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$72K	$97K	$120K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$72K	$97K	$120K	100	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$72K	$97K	$120K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$72K	$97K	$120K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$72K	$97K	$120K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$72K	$97K	$120K	108	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$72K	$97K	$120K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$72K	$97K	$120K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$72K	$97K	$120K	88	6%
Meridian, ID	$72K	$97K	$120K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$72K	$97K	$120K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	5.75%
Rochester, MN	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$71K	$96K	$118K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$71K	$96K	$119K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$71K	$95K	$118K	87	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$71K	$95K	$118K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$71K	$95K	$118K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$71K	$95K	$118K	118	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$71K	$95K	$118K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$71K	$95K	$118K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$71K	$95K	$118K	102	None ✓
Allentown, PA	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	3.07%
Charleston, SC	$71K	$95K	$118K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$70K	$95K	$117K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$70K	$94K	$116K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$70K	$94K	$116K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$70K	$94K	$116K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$70K	$94K	$116K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$70K	$94K	$116K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$69K	$93K	$116K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$69K	$93K	$115K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$69K	$93K	$116K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$69K	$93K	$116K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$69K	$93K	$115K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$69K	$93K	$115K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$69K	$93K	$116K	90	4.25%
Madison, WI	$69K	$93K	$115K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$69K	$93K	$116K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$69K	$93K	$115K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$69K	$93K	$116K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$69K	$93K	$115K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$68K	$92K	$114K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$68K	$92K	$114K	105	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	4.75%
Detroit, MI	$68K	$92K	$114K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$68K	$92K	$114K	90	5.3%
Independence, MO	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$68K	$92K	$114K	88	3.23%
Lafayette, LA	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$68K	$92K	$114K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$68K	$91K	$113K	88	3.99%
Akron, OH	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$68K	$91K	$113K	86	5.3%
Springfield, MO	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$68K	$91K	$113K	90	5.3%
Bowling Green, KY	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$68K	$91K	$113K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$67K	$91K	$112K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$67K	$90K	$112K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$67K	$90K	$112K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$67K	$90K	$112K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$67K	$90K	$112K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$67K	$90K	$112K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$67K	$90K	$112K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$66K	$89K	$111K	75	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$66K	$89K	$110K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$66K	$89K	$110K	95	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$66K	$89K	$110K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$66K	$89K	$110K	85	None ✓
Louisville, KY	$66K	$89K	$110K	85	5%
Birmingham, AL	$66K	$89K	$110K	82	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$66K	$89K	$110K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$66K	$89K	$111K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$66K	$89K	$111K	75	6.5%
Rochester, NY	$65K	$87K	$108K	90	6.85%
Memphis, TN	$65K	$87K	$108K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$65K	$87K	$108K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$65K	$87K	$108K	90	4.25%
Des Moines, IA	$65K	$87K	$108K	88	4.82%
Wichita, KS	$65K	$87K	$108K	82	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$65K	$87K	$108K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$63K	$85K	$106K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$63K	$85K	$106K	88	6.85%
Tucson, AZ	$63K	$85K	$106K	90	2.5%
Columbia, SC	$63K	$85K	$106K	88	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$61K	$82K	$102K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$61K	$82K	$102K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$59K	$80K	$98K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $97K Power Plant Operator salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Power Plant Operator Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Power Plant Operator is $97,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $72,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $120,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Power Plant Operators nationally earn $138,000+.

Education and requirements

High school + certification. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Power Plant Operator compensation is growing at 0.5% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Power Plant Operator salary FAQ

How much does a Power Plant Operator make?

The median Power Plant Operator salary in the US is $97,000 per year — about $47/hour. Most earn between $72,000 (25th percentile) and $120,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Power Plant Operator?

Entry-level Power Plant Operator positions typically start around $72,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Power Plant Operators earn?

The top 10% of Power Plant Operators earn $138,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Power Plant Operators the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Power Plant Operator salary at $126K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Power Plant Operator salaries going up?

Yes — Power Plant Operator pay is growing about 0.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Power Plant Operator Salaryby City (2026)