How much does a power plant operator make?
Answer: A typical power plant operator in the United States makes $102,040 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 29,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Power plant operator pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $61,790 | $102,040 | $131,940 | about 29,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $107,580 | about 590 |
| Alabama | $107,080 | about 790 |
| Indiana | $107,000 | about 1,000 |
| New York | $106,990 | about 2,000 |
| Michigan | $105,820 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, useful skills, relevant licenses, the employer, location, and how much responsibility the job carries. Hours and shift patterns can also affect total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a power plant operator do?
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. Excludes “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators” (51-8011).
What's a typical day like?
They watch control panels and gauges, check equipment and logbooks, and adjust boilers, turbines, or generators to keep electricity flowing. They talk with coworkers and may start or stop equipment when conditions change.
How to get this job
U.S. power plant operators usually need a high school diploma and extensive on-the-job training; employers may test basic skills. Some jobs require state licenses; nuclear reactor operators need extra training and an NRC license.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some power plant operators work with fuel cells or tiny turbines that make electricity right at a factory.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/power-plant-operators-distributors-and-dispatchers.ht
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-8013.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/operator-licensing
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY