The average salary for a power plant operator in Kentucky is around $93,400 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $93,400.
Wages typically start from $66,830 and go up to $118,400.
42% above national average Updated in 2025
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$56.92 per hour
$118,400 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$50.81 per hour
$105,690 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$44.90 per hour
$93,400 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$40.82 per hour
$84,900 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$32.13 per hour
$66,830 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 Kentucky. On average, they make less than biofuels production managers but more than aircraft mechanics.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels production manager salary | $112K |
| Biomass power plant manager salary | $112K |
| Power plant operator salary | $93K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $84K |
| Aviation inspector salary | $84K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $79K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $68K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)