The average salary for a power plant operator in New Jersey is around $131,370 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $131,370.
Wages typically start from $83,510 and go up to $131,940.
48% above national average Updated in 2025
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$63.44 per hour
$131,940 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$63.35 per hour
$131,770 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$63.16 per hour
$131,370 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$59.20 per hour
$123,130 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$40.15 per hour
$83,510 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 about the same as related careers in New Jersey. On average, they make less than industrial production managers but more than logisticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial production manager salary | $147K |
| Biomass power plant manager salary | $147K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $138K |
| Power plant operator salary | $131K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $105K |
| Petroleum pump system operator salary | $105K |
| Millwright salary | $108K |
| Logistician salary | $92K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)