Control and monitor the systems that generate electricity at a power plant. Median salary in Portland: $107K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Portland, Oregon. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Power Plant Operators in Portland earn approximately 10% higher than the US national median for this role — a $10,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Portland's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Portland's cost-of-living index (130), the median Power Plant Operator salary buys the equivalent of $82,308 in a US-average-cost city. That's $14,692 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Oregon's 9.9% state income tax reduces take-home by roughly $10,593 per year at the median salary. A Power Plant Operator relocating to a no-tax state like Texas, Florida, or Tennessee would retain that amount without changing gross pay.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $107K by 2030.
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The median Power Plant Operator salary in Portland, OR is $107,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Portland–OR metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Power Plant Operators in Portland with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $79,000 and $107,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $107,000 to $132,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $132,000 to $152,000 or more.
Portland has a cost of living index of 130 compared to the US national average of 100. Portland's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Oregon has a 9.9% state income tax rate.
High school + certification. 0% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.