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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $135K | $181K | $224K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Cambridge, MA | $133K | $179K | $222K | 185 | 5% |
| Pearl City, HI | $133K | $179K | $222K | 185 | 11% |
| Bellevue, WA | $126K | $170K | $210K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Irvine, CA | $124K | $167K | $206K | 172 | 9.3% |
| Yonkers, NY | $119K | $160K | $198K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Bethesda, MD | $119K | $160K | $198K | 165 | 5.75% |
| Kirkland, WA | $117K | $157K | $194K | 162 | None ✓ |
| Stamford, CT | $114K | $153K | $190K | 158 | 6.99% |
| Hilo, HI | $112K | $150K | $186K | 155 | 11% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $108K | $146K | $180K | 150 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $107K | $144K | $178K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Rockville, MD | $107K | $144K | $178K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Alexandria, VA | $104K | $141K | $174K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $104K | $141K | $174K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Paterson, NJ | $101K | $136K | $168K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $99K | $134K | $166K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Edison, NJ | $99K | $134K | $166K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $99K | $134K | $166K | 138 | None ✓ |
| San Francisco, CA | $94K | $126K | $156K | 224 | 9.3% |
| San Jose, CA | $92K | $124K | $154K | 210 | 9.3% |
| Oakland, CA | $88K | $118K | $146K | 185 | 9.3% |
| New Haven, CT | $88K | $118K | $146K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Houston, TX | $86K | $116K | $144K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Washington, DC | $86K | $116K | $144K | 152 | 8.5% |
| Nashua, NH | $86K | $116K | $144K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Riverside, CA | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Naperville, IL | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Seattle, WA | $85K | $114K | $142K | 150 | None ✓ |
| Vancouver, WA | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Boston, MA | $85K | $114K | $142K | 162 | 5% |
| Lowell, MA | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 5% |
| Gresham, OR | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Manchester, NH | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $85K | $114K | $142K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Anchorage, AK | $85K | $114K | $142K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Los Angeles, CA | $83K | $112K | $138K | 163 | 9.3% |
| San Diego, CA | $83K | $112K | $138K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Hialeah, FL | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Denver, CO | $83K | $112K | $138K | 118 | 4.55% |
| Lakewood, CO | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Arlington, VA | $83K | $112K | $138K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Frederick, MD | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $83K | $112K | $138K | 162 | 10.75% |
| Portland, ME | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Concord, NH | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Warwick, RI | $83K | $112K | $138K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $81K | $109K | $134K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Fort Collins, CO | $81K | $109K | $134K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Cary, NC | $81K | $109K | $134K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Newark, NJ | $81K | $109K | $134K | 155 | 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% |
| Eugene, OR | $79K | $107K | $132K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Honolulu, HI | $79K | $107K | $132K | 192 | 11% |
| Dallas, TX | $78K | $105K | $130K | 96 | None ✓ |
| Austin, TX | $78K | $105K | $130K | 110 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $78K | $105K | $130K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Gilbert, AZ | $78K | $105K | $130K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $78K | $105K | $130K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Thornton, CO | $78K | $105K | $130K | 108 | 4.55% |
| Worcester, MA | $78K | $105K | $130K | 120 | 5% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $78K | $105K | $130K | 105 | 4.85% |
| Boise, ID | $78K | $105K | $130K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Wilmington, DE | $78K | $105K | $130K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $76K | $102K | $126K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Plano, TX | $76K | $102K | $126K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Irving, TX | $76K | $102K | $126K | 97 | None ✓ |
| Stockton, CA | $76K | $102K | $126K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Chicago, IL | $76K | $102K | $126K | 107 | 4.95% |
| Tacoma, WA | $76K | $102K | $126K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, CO | $76K | $102K | $126K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Springfield, MA | $76K | $102K | $126K | 105 | 5% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $76K | $102K | $126K | 110 | 3.07% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $76K | $102K | $126K | 106 | 6.8% |
| Salem, OR | $76K | $102K | $126K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $76K | $102K | $126K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Provo, UT | $76K | $102K | $126K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Huntsville, AL | $76K | $102K | $126K | 88 | 5% |
| Baltimore, MD | $76K | $102K | $126K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Hartford, CT | $76K | $102K | $126K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Meridian, ID | $76K | $102K | $126K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Arlington, TX | $73K | $99K | $122K | 94 | None ✓ |
| McKinney, TX | $73K | $99K | $122K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $73K | $99K | $122K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Miami, FL | $73K | $99K | $122K | 123 | None ✓ |
| Scottsdale, AZ | $73K | $99K | $122K | 118 | 2.5% |
| Atlanta, GA | $73K | $99K | $122K | 99 | 5.75% |
| Raleigh, NC | $73K | $99K | $122K | 102 | 4.75% |
| Durham, NC | $73K | $99K | $122K | 100 | 4.75% |
| St. Paul, MN | $73K | $99K | $122K | 104 | 6.8% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $73K | $99K | $122K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Missoula, MT | $73K | $99K | $122K | 102 | 6.75% |
| Garland, TX | $72K | $97K | $120K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Denton, TX | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | None ✓ |
| San Bernardino, CA | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 9.3% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Phoenix, AZ | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Chandler, AZ | $72K | $97K | $120K | 105 | 2.5% |
| Peoria, AZ | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $72K | $97K | $120K | 102 | 4.55% |
| Charlotte, NC | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $72K | $97K | $120K | 90 | 3.07% |
| Rochester, MN | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 6.8% |
| Reno, NV | $72K | $97K | $120K | 108 | None ✓ |
| West Jordan, UT | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Tulsa, OK | $72K | $97K | $120K | 80 | 4.75% |
| New Orleans, LA | $72K | $97K | $120K | 92 | 6% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $72K | $97K | $120K | 88 | 6% |
| Overland Park, KS | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 5.7% |
| Dover, DE | $72K | $97K | $120K | 100 | 6.6% |
| San Antonio, TX | $71K | $95K | $118K | 87 | None ✓ |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $71K | $95K | $118K | 84 | None ✓ |
| Albany, NY | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 6.85% |
| Tampa, FL | $71K | $95K | $118K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $71K | $95K | $118K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Richmond, VA | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Nashville, TN | $71K | $95K | $118K | 102 | None ✓ |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Charleston, SC | $71K | $95K | $118K | 105 | 6.5% |
| Nampa, ID | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Lewiston, ME | $71K | $95K | $118K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Orlando, FL | $69K | $93K | $115K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $69K | $93K | $115K | 98 | 2.5% |
| Columbus, OH | $69K | $93K | $115K | 90 | 3.99% |
| Madison, WI | $69K | $93K | $115K | 102 | 5.3% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $69K | $93K | $115K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Bakersfield, CA | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 9.3% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $68K | $92K | $114K | 93 | None ✓ |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $68K | $92K | $114K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Glendale, AZ | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Norfolk, VA | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Detroit, MI | $68K | $92K | $114K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Allentown, PA | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 3.07% |
| Kansas City, MO | $68K | $92K | $114K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $68K | $92K | $114K | 88 | 3.23% |
| North Charleston, SC | $68K | $92K | $114K | 95 | 6.5% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $68K | $91K | $113K | 88 | 3.99% |
| St. Louis, MO | $68K | $91K | $113K | 86 | 5.3% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $68K | $91K | $113K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Midland, TX | $66K | $89K | $110K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Fresno, CA | $66K | $89K | $110K | 102 | 9.3% |
| Spokane, WA | $66K | $89K | $110K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Savannah, GA | $66K | $89K | $110K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Athens, GA | $66K | $89K | $110K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Knoxville, TN | $66K | $89K | $110K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Duluth, MN | $66K | $89K | $110K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Louisville, KY | $66K | $89K | $110K | 85 | 5% |
| Birmingham, AL | $66K | $89K | $110K | 82 | 5% |
| Greenville, SC | $66K | $89K | $110K | 92 | 6.5% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $66K | $89K | $110K | 88 | 5.9% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $66K | $89K | $110K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Rochester, NY | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | 6.85% |
| Tallahassee, FL | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Joliet, IL | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Memphis, TN | $65K | $87K | $108K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Cleveland, OH | $65K | $87K | $108K | 82 | 3.99% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Kenosha, WI | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | 5.3% |
| 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% |
| Fargo, ND | $65K | $87K | $108K | 90 | 2.5% |
| El Paso, TX | $63K | $85K | $106K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Pasadena, TX | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Buffalo, NY | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Syracuse, NY | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Gainesville, FL | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Tucson, AZ | $63K | $85K | $106K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Greensboro, NC | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Green Bay, WI | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Lexington, KY | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 5% |
| Columbia, SC | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 6.5% |
| Great Falls, MT | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Casper, WY | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Bismarck, ND | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $63K | $85K | $106K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Lubbock, TX | $61K | $82K | $102K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Warren, MI | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Independence, MO | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Lafayette, LA | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Kansas City, KS | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Little Rock, AR | $61K | $82K | $102K | 82 | 4.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $61K | $82K | $102K | 85 | 4.9% |
| Laredo, TX | $59K | $80K | $98K | 76 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Pueblo, CO | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Clarksville, TN | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | None ✓ |
| South Bend, IN | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Mobile, AL | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 5% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Davenport, IA | $59K | $80K | $98K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Killeen, TX | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Rockford, IL | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Macon, GA | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Akron, OH | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Erie, PA | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 5% |
| Norman, OK | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Gulfport, MS | $58K | $78K | $96K | 80 | 5% |
| Abilene, TX | $56K | $76K | $94K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $56K | $76K | $94K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Evansville, IN | $56K | $76K | $94K | 78 | 3.23% |
| Shreveport, LA | $56K | $76K | $94K | 78 | 6% |
| Jackson, MS | $56K | $76K | $94K | 78 | 5% |
| Charleston, WV | $56K | $76K | $94K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Brownsville, TX | $54K | $73K | $90K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Fort Smith, AR | $54K | $73K | $90K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Huntington, WV | $54K | $73K | $90K | 75 | 6.5% |
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.