Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Illinois
$107,000 / year
≈ $8,900 per month · $51.44 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Illinois · median $108,000
25th percentile
$96,500Average
$107,00075th percentile
$124,500
$96,500Average
$107,00075th percentile
$124,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Power Plant Operator salary by state
Alabama$106,000
Alaska$93,000
Arizona$92,500
Arkansas$93,500
California$115,000
Colorado$112,500
Connecticut$106,500
Delaware$114,000
Florida$93,000
Georgia$103,000
Hawaii$124,000
Idaho$116,500
Illinois$107,000
Indiana$106,500
Iowa$97,000
Kansas$89,000
Kentucky$97,500
Louisiana$101,000
Maine$86,500
Maryland$111,500
Massachusetts$103,000
Michigan$109,000
Minnesota$99,000
Mississippi$100,000
Missouri$97,000
Montana$103,000
Nebraska$101,500
Nevada$120,000
New Hampshire$89,500
New Jersey$124,500
New Mexico$103,500
New York$112,500
North Carolina$104,000
North Dakota$120,500
Ohio$102,000
Oklahoma$88,500
Oregon$117,000
Pennsylvania$99,500
Rhode Island$106,000
South Carolina$84,000
Tennessee$112,500
Texas$100,500
Utah$110,000
Vermont$88,500
Virginia$77,000
Washington$132,500
West Virginia$96,500
Wisconsin$79,500
Wyoming$106,000
About this role
Power Plant Operator is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Power Plant Operators do
Typical education: High School Diploma
- Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
- Take regulatory action, based on readings from charts, meters and gauges, at established intervals.
- Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.
- Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
Top skills: Operations Monitoring Operation and Control Critical Thinking Speaking Monitoring Complex Problem Solving
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Power Plant Operator pay by experience level
Entry level$64,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$82,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$105,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$123,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$136,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-11.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Power Plant Operator salary by industry
Utilities
20,400 workers
$108,000Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
19,690 workers
$107,000Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
4,330 workers
$100,500Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,050 workers
$98,000Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
880 workers
$80,000Educational Services
730 workers
$68,500Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
690 workers
$68,500Educational Services, State Government Owned
660 workers
$66,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
640 workers
$122,500State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
640 workers
$90,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Power Plant Operator pays 85% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Similar-paying roles in Production
Careers related to Power Plant Operator
Gas Plant Operator$92,000
Geothermal Technician$56,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Power Plant Operator make?
The average base salary for a Power Plant Operator in the United States is $103,500 per year, or about $49.76 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $82,500 and $123,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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