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Power plant operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$102,040median pay per year, or $49.06 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $61,790lowest 10% earn less
  2. $79,69025th percentile
  3. $102,040median
  4. $119,08075th percentile
  5. $131,940top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Power plant operators had a median pay of $102,040 a year, about twice the median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to decline 5.1% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.1%[3]
Openings per year
2,300[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do power plant operators make?

The median pay for power plant operators was $102,040 a year, or $49.06 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $99,790 a year, or $47.97 an hour[7].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $61,790 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $131,940[4]. A percentile is a boundary point in the pay list. BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $61,790 $29.71
25th percentile[4][9] $79,690 $38.31
Median[1] $102,040 $49.06
75th percentile[4][9] $119,080 $57.25
90th percentile[4][9] $131,940 $63.44

The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[2]. These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the top state median at $131,620 a year[11]. Nevada followed at $131,400, then New Jersey at $131,370[11]. Wisconsin was last among the states listed, at $66,080[11].

The states with the most jobs were California (2,610), Texas (2,100), New York (1,960), Florida (1,640) and Michigan (1,220)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Fresno, CA had the top median at $138,930[13]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom came next at $133,380[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, about 1,090, with a median of $131,770[14].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$131,620430
Nevada$131,400250
New Jersey$131,370300
Idaho$124,440310
North Dakota$122,160150
Hawaii$121,700290
Tennessee$115,920490
Maryland$111,260330
Oregon$109,830250
North Carolina$108,300420
Georgia$107,580590
Utah$107,120420
Alabama$107,080790
Indiana$107,0001,190
New York$106,9901,960
Montana$106,040130
Michigan$105,8201,220
New Mexico$105,510130
California$105,2102,610
Illinois$104,4401,160
Ohio$104,160730
Delaware$103,01080
Colorado$102,780250
Texas$102,5102,100
Mississippi$102,400450
Missouri$101,900n/a
Louisiana$101,170370
Iowa$100,500470
Massachusetts$100,140880
Wyoming$99,200230
Nebraska$98,210360
Rhode Island$98,05050
Arkansas$97,760220
Connecticut$97,460250
West Virginia$97,210170
Pennsylvania$95,8001,010
Minnesota$94,390970
Florida$94,2901,640
Kentucky$93,400690
Alaska$88,870650
Oklahoma$88,590520
Arizona$84,970390
New Hampshire$81,07090
Maine$81,060190
Kansas$79,980520
South Carolina$79,900680
Vermont$78,240140
Virginia$73,640590
Wisconsin$66,080420

How to become a power plant operator

BLS describes the typical path into this job like this[6]:

The BLS handbook profile for this job covers a wider group that also includes distributors and dispatchers[15]. Its text says several years of onsite training and experience are typical before someone is fully competent, and trained operators keep taking regular training[16]. Employers may give an aptitude exam that tests reading, mechanical understanding, spatial ability and math[17]. Some employers prefer a college or vocational degree and a strong science and math background[18][19].

Nuclear power reactor operators must hold a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. They usually start as unlicensed operators, then meet training and experience rules, pass a medical exam and pass the license exam[20]. Some other operators may hold state licenses, and requirements differ by state[21].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 60% said a high school diploma or equivalent was the education level required[22]. With so few respondents, treat this as a rough picture only.

What power plant operators do

Power plant operators control, run or maintain the machinery that generates electric power[23]. Tasks reported to O*NET include[24]:

Job titles reported by workers include control room operator, plant operator and auxiliary operator[25].

Where they work

This section draws on the handbook profile for the wider group[15]. In 2025, utilities were the largest employer group, at 69%[26]. Control room staff sit or stand at a control station and need to pay constant attention. They may also walk rounds to check equipment[27]. Nuclear plants usually have heightened security[28].

Full-time work is the norm, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[29]. Rotating 8 or 12 hour shifts are typical[29]. Rotating day and night shifts can be stressful because sleep and daily routines keep changing[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 29,800 to 28,300 jobs[3]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%[31]. BLS names productivity change as a factor. Upgraded technology in power plants is expected to let operators do more, which lowers their share of jobs[32].

Jobs still open up. About 2,300 openings a year are projected on average[5]. They include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new positions[5]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 6.1% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show high pay for a job that typically needs a high school diploma, with no related experience but long on-the-job training[1][2][6]. The pay range is wide, so where you work matters[4][11]. The tradeoffs are a shrinking job count and rotating shifts that can disrupt sleep[3][30]. The work suits people who can stay focused on instruments and equipment for long stretches[27].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a power plant operator make an hour?
The median was $49.06 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $47.97[1][7].
What education do you need to be a power plant operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with long-term on-the-job training[6].
Is power plant operator a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to decline 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][31]. About 2,300 openings a year are still projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for power plant operators?
Washington had the top median at $131,620 a year, ahead of Nevada at $131,400[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Power Plant Operators in the US was $102,040 per year and $49.06 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Power Plant Operators is projected to decline 5.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 29,800 to 28,300 jobs (a change of -1,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Power Plant Operators: 10th percentile $61,790, 25th percentile $79,690, 75th percentile $119,080, 90th percentile $131,940. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,300 openings for Power Plant Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Power Plant Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Power Plant Operators was $99,790 per year and $47.97 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Power Plant Operators: 10th percentile $29.71, 25th percentile $38.31, 75th percentile $57.25, 90th percentile $63.44. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Power Plant Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Power Plant Operators jobs: California 2,610; Texas 2,100; New York 1,960; Florida 1,640; Michigan 1,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Power Plant Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Fresno, CA $138,930; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $133,380; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $133,140; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $132,600; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $132,030; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $131,770; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $126,190; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $123,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Power Plant Operators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,090 (median $131,770); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 640 (median $103,900); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 640 (median $123,540); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 540 (median $105,870); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 530 (median $104,620); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 470 (median $99,000). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers" covers Power Plant Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 51-8013.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 60%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 14%, Bachelor's Degree 13%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Power Plant Operators. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Power Plant Operators. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 51-8013.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Multicraft Operator (MCO), Operations and Maintenance Technician (O and M Tech), Plant Control Operator, Plant Operator, Power Plant Operator. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers in 2025: Utilities 69%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Power Plant Operators: Productivity change - share decreases as upgraded technologies incorporated into power plants will make power plant operators more productive. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Power Plant Operators: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.