upper level job

Power Plant Worker IV Salary in the United States

How much does a Power Plant Worker IV make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Power Plant Worker IV in the United States is $105,590 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a Power Plant Worker IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,593
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $97,390 to $114,490
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,924

Key Factors That Influence Power Plant Worker IV Salaries

A Power Plant Worker IV's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Power Plant Worker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Power Plant Worker IV's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Utility Plant Operator II (1-3 years): $81,184
  • Power Generation Process Operator III (3-5 years): $91,170
  • Power Plant Worker IV (5-7 years): $105,549
  • Power Generation Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I (7+ years): $121,845
  • Power Generation Plant Operations Shift Supervisor II (7+ years): $147,132
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Utility Plant Operator II1-3 years$81,184
Power Generation Process Operator III3-5 years$91,170
Power Plant Worker IV5-7 years$105,549
Power Generation Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I7+ years$121,845
Power Generation Plant Operations Shift Supervisor II7+ years$147,132

Top Paying Cities for Power Plant Worker IVs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $133,190
  • San Francisco: $131,690
  • Oakland: $128,890

What Skills Can Increase a Power Plant Worker IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.66% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Lubricants (Mentioned in 4.91% Job Postings): A lubricant is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move.
  • Pneumatics (Mentioned in 3.31% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.66%
Lubricants 4.91%
Pneumatics 3.31%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Power Plant Worker IV's salary.

  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Schematic: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability $118,261
12%
Schematic $117,205
11%
Analysis $115,093
9%

Power Plant Worker IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Power Plant Worker IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $116,073. While startup companies pay approximate $98,601.

Power Plant Worker IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $98,601
Growth Stage 51~500 $104,166
Established 501~5000 $112,172
Enterprise 5000+ $116,073

Power Plant Worker IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Power Plant Worker IV roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, MFG Nondurable, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Power Plant Worker positions in Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Power Plant Worker IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Power Plant Worker IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$116,149$56.010%

Power Plant Worker IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Power Plant Worker IV's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$97,390
Average $105,590/year
$114,490
$8,116
Average $8,799/month
$9,541
$1,873
Average $2,031/week
$2,202
$47
Average $51/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $114,490 $9,541 $2,202 $55
Average $105,590 $8,799 $2,031 $51
25th Percentile $97,390 $8,116 $1,873 $47

Power Plant Worker IV Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Power Plant Worker IV, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Power Generation Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $121,900 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Power Plant Worker IV

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Power Plant Worker IV

Here are companies hiring for Power Plant Worker IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Power Plant Worker IV Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Power Plant Worker IV job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Power Plant Worker IV

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Power Plant Worker IV?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Power Plant Worker IV roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job