Power Plant Operators Salary in U.S.
SOC 51-8013 · National · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Power Plant Operators in U.S. is $99,670 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $47.92 per hour. 30,720 people work as Power Plant Operators in U.S.. Wages have grown 42% since 2014, when the median was $70,070.
Median Annual Salary
$99,670
Mean Annual
$95,990
Median Hourly
$47.92
Total Employed
30,720
Salary Distribution
$60k
10th
$77k
25th
$100k
Median
$112k
75th
$129k
90th
Salary by Industry
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Natural Gas Distribution | $139,200 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $108,040 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $108,040 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $107,870 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $107,870 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $107,870 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $107,190 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $103,640 |
| Utilities | $102,950 |
| Utilities | $102,950 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $102,740 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $101,190 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $95,730 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $95,730 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation | $95,150 |
| Solar Electric Power Generation | $94,570 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $87,350 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $86,010 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $85,640 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $81,320 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $81,320 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $81,320 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $79,250 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $79,250 |
| Other Electric Power Generation | $79,050 |
| Facilities Support Services | $78,680 |
| Engineering Services | $78,530 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $78,530 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $78,530 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $78,520 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $78,400 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $78,400 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $77,660 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $77,560 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $76,920 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $76,840 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $76,560 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $76,560 |
| Wind Electric Power Generation | $75,600 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $74,700 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $74,670 |
| Geothermal Electric Power Generation | $72,950 |
| Manufacturing | $71,470 |
| Educational Services | $70,160 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $68,660 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $67,050 |
| Hospitals | $66,800 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $65,010 |
| Food Manufacturing | $64,490 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $64,370 |
| Biomass Electric Power Generation | $63,470 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $63,010 |
| Educational Services | $61,960 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $60,450 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $59,040 |
| Temporary Help Services | $56,840 |
| Employment Services | $56,840 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $38,090 |
Salary Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $99,670 |
| 2023 | $97,010 |
| 2022 | $93,060 |
| 2021 | $80,850 |
| 2020 | $84,650 |
| 2019 | $81,990 |
| 2018 | $79,610 |
| 2017 | $77,180 |
| 2016 | $74,690 |
| 2015 | $71,940 |
| 2014 | $70,070 |
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