Power Plant Operators Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 49 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median power plant operators in the US earns $102,040 per year (29,320 employed). Gross pay is highest in Washington ($131,620) and lowest in Wisconsin ($66,080) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Power Plant Operators pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operators in Washington | $131,620 | $101,228 | $8,436 | 76.9% | 430 |
| Power Plant Operators in Nevada | $131,400 | $101,078 | $8,423 | 76.9% | 250 |
| Power Plant Operators in New Jersey | $131,370 | $94,877 | $7,906 | 72.2% | 300 |
| Power Plant Operators in Idaho | $124,440 | $90,834 | $7,569 | 73% | 310 |
| Power Plant Operators in North Dakota | $122,160 | $93,640 | $7,803 | 76.7% | 150 |
| Power Plant Operators in Hawaii | $121,700 | $86,727 | $7,227 | 71.3% | 290 |
| Power Plant Operators in Tennessee | $115,920 | $90,380 | $7,532 | 78% | 490 |
| Power Plant Operators in Maryland | $111,260 | $82,169 | $6,847 | 73.9% | 330 |
| Power Plant Operators in Oregon | $109,830 | $77,315 | $6,443 | 70.4% | 250 |
| Power Plant Operators in North Carolina | $108,300 | $81,207 | $6,767 | 75% | 420 |
| Power Plant Operators in Georgia | $107,580 | $79,552 | $6,629 | 73.9% | 590 |
| Power Plant Operators in Utah | $107,120 | $79,369 | $6,614 | 74.1% | 420 |
| Power Plant Operators in Alabama | $107,080 | $79,072 | $6,589 | 73.8% | 790 |
| Power Plant Operators in Indiana | $107,000 | $80,978 | $6,748 | 75.7% | 1,190 |
| Power Plant Operators in New York | $106,990 | $78,825 | $6,569 | 73.7% | 1,960 |
| Power Plant Operators in Montana | $106,040 | $78,799 | $6,567 | 74.3% | 130 |
| Power Plant Operators in Michigan | $105,820 | $79,028 | $6,586 | 74.7% | 1,220 |
| Power Plant Operators in New Mexico | $105,510 | $79,217 | $6,601 | 75.1% | 130 |
| Power Plant Operators in California | $105,210 | $77,290 | $6,441 | 73.5% | 2,610 |
| Power Plant Operators in Illinois | $104,440 | $77,279 | $6,440 | 74% | 1,160 |
| Power Plant Operators in Ohio | $104,160 | $80,025 | $6,669 | 76.8% | 730 |
| Power Plant Operators in Delaware | $103,010 | $75,840 | $6,320 | 73.6% | 80 |
| Power Plant Operators in Colorado | $102,780 | $77,322 | $6,443 | 75.2% | 250 |
| Power Plant Operators in Texas | $102,510 | $80,946 | $6,745 | 79% | 2,100 |
| Power Plant Operators in Mississippi | $102,400 | $77,505 | $6,459 | 75.7% | 450 |
| Power Plant Operators in Missouri | $101,900 | $76,665 | $6,389 | 75.2% | — |
| Power Plant Operators in Louisiana | $101,170 | $77,354 | $6,446 | 76.5% | 370 |
| Power Plant Operators in Iowa | $100,500 | $76,365 | $6,364 | 76% | 470 |
| Power Plant Operators in Massachusetts | $100,140 | $74,492 | $6,208 | 74.4% | 880 |
| Power Plant Operators in Wyoming | $99,200 | $78,617 | $6,551 | 79.3% | 230 |
| Power Plant Operators in Nebraska | $98,210 | $74,332 | $6,194 | 75.7% | 360 |
| Power Plant Operators in Rhode Island | $98,050 | $74,748 | $6,229 | 76.2% | 50 |
| Power Plant Operators in Arkansas | $97,760 | $74,004 | $6,167 | 75.7% | 220 |
| Power Plant Operators in Connecticut | $97,460 | $73,608 | $6,134 | 75.5% | 250 |
| Power Plant Operators in West Virginia | $97,210 | $73,467 | $6,122 | 75.6% | 170 |
| Power Plant Operators in Pennsylvania | $95,800 | $73,284 | $6,107 | 76.5% | 1,010 |
| Power Plant Operators in Minnesota | $94,390 | $70,338 | $5,862 | 74.5% | 970 |
| Power Plant Operators in Florida | $94,290 | $75,163 | $6,264 | 79.7% | 1,640 |
| Power Plant Operators in Kentucky | $93,400 | $71,386 | $5,949 | 76.4% | 690 |
| Power Plant Operators in Alaska | $88,870 | $71,350 | $5,946 | 80.3% | 650 |
| Power Plant Operators in Oklahoma | $88,590 | $67,712 | $5,643 | 76.4% | 520 |
| Power Plant Operators in Arizona | $84,970 | $66,691 | $5,558 | 78.5% | 390 |
| Power Plant Operators in New Hampshire | $81,070 | $65,863 | $5,489 | 81.2% | 90 |
| Power Plant Operators in Maine | $81,060 | $61,556 | $5,130 | 75.9% | 190 |
| Power Plant Operators in Kansas | $79,980 | $61,433 | $5,119 | 76.8% | 520 |
| Power Plant Operators in South Carolina | $79,900 | $61,403 | $5,117 | 76.8% | 680 |
| Power Plant Operators in Vermont | $78,240 | $61,168 | $5,097 | 78.2% | 140 |
| Power Plant Operators in Virginia | $73,640 | $57,216 | $4,768 | 77.7% | 590 |
| Power Plant Operators in Wisconsin | $66,080 | $53,149 | $4,429 | 80.4% | 420 |
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