The average salary for a power plant operator in California is around $105,210 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $105,210.
Wages typically start from $63,510 and go up to $171,800.
37% above national average Updated in 2025
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$82.60 per hour
$171,800 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$63.75 per hour
$132,600 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$50.58 per hour
$105,210 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$38.59 per hour
$80,270 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$30.54 per hour
$63,510 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Power plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $99,200 |
| Nebraska | $98,210 |
| Rhode Island | $98,050 |
| Arkansas | $97,760 |
| Connecticut | $97,460 |
| West Virginia | $97,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,800 |
| Minnesota | $94,390 |
| Florida | $94,290 |
| Kentucky | $93,400 |
| Alaska | $88,870 |
| Oklahoma | $88,590 |
| Arizona | $84,970 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 |
| Maine | $81,060 |
| Kansas | $79,980 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 |
| Vermont | $78,240 |
| Virginia | $73,640 |
| South Dakota | $71,590 |
| Wisconsin | $66,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,800 |
| Washington | $131,620 |
| Nevada | $131,400 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 |
| Idaho | $124,440 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 |
| Maryland | $111,260 |
| Oregon | $109,830 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 |
| Georgia | $107,580 |
| Utah | $107,120 |
| Alabama | $107,080 |
| Indiana | $107,000 |
| New York | $106,990 |
| Montana | $106,040 |
| Michigan | $105,820 |
| New Mexico | $105,510 |
| California | $105,210 |
| Illinois | $104,440 |
| Ohio | $104,160 |
| Delaware | $103,010 |
| Colorado | $102,780 |
| Texas | $102,510 |
| Mississippi | $102,400 |
| Missouri | $101,900 |
| Louisiana | $101,170 |
| Iowa | $100,500 |
| Massachusetts | $100,140 |
How do power plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Power plant operators earn 7% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than industrial production managers but more than commercial divers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial production manager salary | $133K |
| Biofuels production manager salary | $133K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $141K |
| Boilermaker salary | $118K |
| Power plant operator salary | $105K |
| Industrial designer salary | $101K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $103K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $103K |
| Commercial diver salary | $102K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)