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Hourly Wage for Power Plant Operations Manager Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Power Plant Operations Manager?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Power Plant Operations Manager in the United States is $81, which translates to an annual salary of about $168,403.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74 to $88 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Power Plant Operations Manager Salaries

A Power Plant Operations Manager'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Power Plant Operations Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Power Plant Operations Manager'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:

  • Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I (0-3 years): $121,801
  • Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor II (3-5 years): $147,070
  • Power Plant Operations Manager (5+ years): $168,403
  • Power Plant Operations Director (5+ years): $194,810
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I0-3 years$121,801
Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor II3-5 years$147,070
Power Plant Operations Manager5+ years$168,403
Power Plant Operations Director5+ years$194,810
View as Graph

How Do Power Plant Operations Managers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Power Plant Operations Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $186,456.
  • California: $185,749.
  • Massachusetts: $183,273.

Top Paying Cities for Power Plant Operations Manager

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: $212,407
  • San Francisco: $210,081
  • Oakland: $205,654

What Skills Can Increase a Power Plant Operations Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Effective Communication (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Sharing information effectively and collaboratively.
  • Environmental Compliance (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements such as site permits to operate. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related, environmental concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being aligned with corporate performance goals and being integrated to some extent to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps, and gaps. Compliance with the above requirements and obligations, requires meeting certain conditions. Typically, these include: Managing monitoring programmes or schedules, ensuring that the monitoring required in the permit has been done, at the correct locations, for the correct parameters, and at the correct frequency Pre-processing, performing calculations and validating the data for compliance with any alert or reporting levels Generating routine compliance reports for authorities.
  • HSE Compliance (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Implementing HSE policies and procedures to ensure the organization's strategies, products, and services are safe for people and the environment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Effective Communication 6.09%
Environmental Compliance 6.09%
HSE Compliance 6.09%
See More Skills

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 Operations Manager's salary.

  • HSE Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Financial Statements: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Environmental Health: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
HSE Compliance $191,979
14%
Financial Statements $185,243
10%
Environmental Health $180,191
7%
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Power Plant Operations Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Power Plant Operations Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $189,549. While startup companies pay approximate $160,527.

Power Plant Operations Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $160,527
Growth Stage 51~500 $169,712
Established 501~5000 $183,102
Enterprise 5000+ $189,549

Power Plant Operations Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Power Plant Operations Manager roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (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 Operations Manager positions in Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Power Plant Operations Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Power Plant Operations Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$185,243$89.010%
MFG Durable$176,823$85.05%

How Education impacts an Power Plant Operations Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Power Plant Operations Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Power Plant Operations Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $151,998 and $159,895.

Power Plant Operations Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Power Plant Operations Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 35.0%
High School 35.0%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 42.5%
Masters 10.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Power Plant Operations Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Power Plant Operations Manager'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 August 01, 2026
$154,513
Average $168,403/year
$182,000
$12,876
Average $14,034/month
$15,167
$2,971
Average $3,239/week
$3,500
$74
Average $81/hour
$88
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $182,000 $15,167 $3,500 $88
Average $168,403 $14,034 $3,239 $81
25th Percentile $154,513 $12,876 $2,971 $74

Most common benefits for Power Plant Operations Manager

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

Common company salaries for Power Plant Operations Manager

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

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FAQ about Power Plant Operations Manager

1. What are the responsibilities of Power Plant Operations Manager?

Manages and oversees the daily operations of a power generation plant. Monitors operations for efficiency and safety ensuring that all applicable regulatory requirements are followed. Directs the implementation of preventative maintenance, emergency and operational plans and procedures. Ensures all applicable regulatory requirements are and safety protocols are followed. Resolves problems and manages resources. May require a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

2. What are the skills of Power Plant Operations Manager

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Effective Communication: Sharing information effectively and collaboratively.

2.)

Environmental Compliance: Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements such as site permits to operate. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related, environmental concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being aligned with corporate performance goals and being integrated to some extent to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps, and gaps. Compliance with the above requirements and obligations, requires meeting certain conditions. Typically, these include: Managing monitoring programmes or schedules, ensuring that the monitoring required in the permit has been done, at the correct locations, for the correct parameters, and at the correct frequency Pre-processing, performing calculations and validating the data for compliance with any alert or reporting levels Generating routine compliance reports for authorities.

3.)

HSE Compliance: Implementing HSE policies and procedures to ensure the organization's strategies, products, and services are safe for people and the environment.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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