The average salary for a power plant operator in Iowa is around $100,500 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $100,500.
Wages typically start from $63,320 and go up to $109,690.
36% above national average Updated in 2025
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$52.74 per hour
$109,690 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$50.23 per hour
$104,480 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$48.32 per hour
$100,500 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$37.53 per hour
$78,060 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$30.44 per hour
$63,320 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 about the same as related careers in Iowa. On average, they make less than biofuels production managers but more than hydroelectric plant technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels production manager salary | $107K |
| Biomass power plant manager salary | $107K |
| Aviation inspector salary | $117K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $115K |
| Power plant operator salary | $100K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $88K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $90K |
| Logistician salary | $79K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $76K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)