Power Plant Operator I Salary in the United States
How much does a Power Plant Operator I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Power Plant Operator I in the United States is $69,743 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.
However, a Power Plant Operator I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,775
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,830 to $79,705
Key Factors That Influence Power Plant Operator I Salaries
A Power Plant Operator I'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 Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Power Plant Operator I'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 Operator I (0-1 years): $69,743
Power Plant Operator II (1-3 years): $81,126
Power Plant Operator III (3-5 years): $91,113
Power Plant Operator IV (5-7 years): $105,474
Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I (7+ years): $121,779
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Power Plant Operator I
0-1 years
$69,743
Power Plant Operator II
1-3 years
$81,126
Power Plant Operator III
3-5 years
$91,113
Power Plant Operator IV
5-7 years
$105,474
Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I
7+ years
$121,779
$69,743Power Pla...
$81,126Power Pla...
$91,113Power Pla...
$105,474Power Pla...
$121,779Power Pla...
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Power Plant Operator I 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 Operator Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $87,967
San Francisco: $87,004
Oakland: $85,170
San Jose, CA$87,967
San Francisco, CA$87,004
Oakland, CA$85,170
New York, NY$80,301
Paramus, NJ$79,325
Queens Village, NY$79,322
Passaic, NJ$79,255
Bergenfield, NJ$79,249
Stamford, CT$79,096
Huntington, NY$79,067
Newark, NJ$78,552
Bridgeport, CT$78,404
Vallejo, CA$78,266
New Brunswick, NJ$78,238
Petaluma, CA$78,196
Middlesex, NJ$78,063
Somerset, NJ$78,015
Santa Cruz, CA$77,924
Boston, MA$77,498
Monterey, CA$77,254
Seattle, WA$77,094
Santa Rosa, CA$77,080
Los Angeles, CA$77,059
Juneau, AK$76,878
Washington, DC$76,801
Orange, CA$76,553
Santa Ana, CA$76,369
Long Beach, CA$76,299
Anaheim, CA$76,285
Anchorage, AK$76,250
Santa Maria, CA$76,041
Everett, WA$76,027
Danbury, CT$75,781
Bremerton, WA$75,685
Tacoma, WA$75,434
New Suffolk, NY$75,433
Sacramento, CA$75,413
Santa Barbara, CA$75,336
Trenton, NJ$75,260
San Diego, CA$75,260
Brockton, MA$75,183
Fairbanks, AK$75,012
Lompoc, CA$74,834
Lowell, MA$74,778
Ventura, CA$74,764
Nashua, NH$74,751
Stockton, CA$74,744
Modesto, CA$74,234
Poughkeepsie, NY$74,081
Olympia, WA$73,949
Kennewick, WA$73,949
New Haven, CT$73,921
Lawrence, MA$73,670
Hartford, CT$73,600
Riverside, CA$73,586
New Bedford, MA$73,516
Richland, WA$73,516
Bakersfield, CA$73,418
San Bernardino, CA$73,391
New Britain, CT$73,384
Atlantic City, NJ$73,384
New London, CT$73,356
Norwich, CT$73,335
Portsmouth, NH$73,321
Boulder, CO$73,173
Portland, OR$73,077
Worcester, MA$73,070
Minneapolis, MN$72,854
Philadelphia, PA$72,756
Honolulu, HI$72,526
Saint Paul, MN$72,492
Vineland, NJ$72,477
Providence, RI$72,275
Chicago, IL$72,072
Bellingham, WA$71,989
Springfield, MA$71,933
Baltimore, MD$71,912
Chico, CA$71,738
Pittsfield, MA$71,549
Manchester, NH$71,417
Spokane, WA$71,110
Denver, CO$71,103
Albany, NY$70,775
Troy, NY$70,747
Nassau, NY$70,673
Schenectady, NY$70,601
Wilmington, DE$70,545
Burlington, VT$70,447
Salem, OR$70,420
Portland, ME$70,203
Yakima, WA$70,134
Rochester, MN$69,917
Reno, NV$69,882
Fresno, CA$69,882
Milwaukee, WI$69,820
Detroit, MI$69,750
Ann Arbor, MI$69,738
Allentown, PA$69,729
Colorado Springs, CO$69,610
Syracuse, NY$69,576
Carson City, NV$69,576
Houston, TX$69,478
Eugene, OR$69,443
Gary, IN$69,359
Springfield, OR$69,304
Bismarck, ND$69,290
Galveston, TX$69,241
Medford, OR$69,136
Fort Collins, CO$69,108
Concord, NH$69,073
Austin, TX$69,053
Mesa, AZ$68,906
Reading, PA$68,899
Phoenix, AZ$68,892
Dallas, TX$68,871
Saint Cloud, MN$68,804
Madison, WI$68,711
Utica, NY$68,522
Rochester, NY$68,411
Des Moines, IA$68,404
Raleigh, NC$68,397
Atlanta, GA$68,292
Battle Creek, MI$68,271
Salt Lake City, UT$68,250
Lancaster, PA$68,146
Harrisburg, PA$68,048
Kansas City, MO$67,979
Champaign, IL$67,965
Kansas City, KS$67,965
Fort Worth, TX$67,958
Columbus, OH$67,946
Boca Raton, FL$67,930
Pittsburgh, PA$67,902
Richmond, VA$67,874
Indianapolis, IN$67,860
Cleveland, OH$67,853
Las Vegas, NV$67,769
Cincinnati, OH$67,769
Petersburg, VA$67,665
Huntsville, AL$67,560
Lansing, MI$67,513
Lebanon, PA$67,504
Pueblo, CO$67,497
Appleton, WI$67,476
Buffalo, NY$67,448
Dayton, OH$67,428
Racine, WI$67,414
Charlotte, NC$67,407
Saint Louis, MO$67,386
York, PA$67,344
Elkhart, IN$67,344
Gastonia, NC$67,331
Billings, MT$67,314
Beaumont, TX$67,295
Lorain, OH$67,281
Benton Harbor, MI$67,267
Toledo, OH$67,253
Binghamton, NY$67,218
Rock Hill, SC$67,211
Rockford, IL$67,176
Springfield, IL$67,149
Elyria, OH$67,142
Fargo, ND$67,142
Flagstaff, AZ$67,093
Fort Lauderdale, FL$67,051
Duluth, MN$67,009
Miami, FL$67,009
Cheyenne, WY$66,960
Grand Forks, ND$66,960
Bangor, ME$66,807
Cedar Rapids, IA$66,730
Durham, NC$66,701
Louisville, KY$66,695
Grand Rapids, MI$66,681
Hialeah, FL$66,674
Casper, WY$66,577
Scranton, PA$66,493
New Orleans, LA$66,472
Virginia Beach, VA$66,465
Akron, OH$66,430
Peoria, IL$66,340
Sarasota, FL$66,326
Nashville, TN$66,277
Omaha, NE$66,277
Green Bay, WI$66,277
Baton Rouge, LA$66,242
Charleston, SC$66,228
Jamestown, NY$66,193
Davenport, IA$66,193
Tucson, AZ$66,158
Saint Petersburg, FL$66,116
Tampa, FL$66,102
Evansville, IN$66,061
Port Arthur, TX$66,061
Bradenton, FL$66,033
Santa Fe, NM$65,907
Orlando, FL$65,782
Clearwater, FL$65,761
Canton, OH$65,614
La Crosse, WI$65,614
Albuquerque, NM$65,572
Newport News, VA$65,565
High Point, NC$65,544
Ogden, UT$65,517
Corpus Christi, TX$65,461
Norfolk, VA$65,419
Laramie, WY$65,419
Rock Island, IL$65,377
Saginaw, MI$65,363
Jacksonville, FL$65,356
Salisbury, NC$65,342
Boise, ID$65,328
Moline, IL$65,293
Fort Myers, FL$65,272
Memphis, TN$65,259
Tulsa, OK$65,224
Waterloo, IA$65,182
Spartanburg, SC$65,112
Lincoln, NE$65,077
Fort Wayne, IN$65,063
Provo, UT$65,056
Cedar Falls, IA$64,973
San Antonio, TX$64,945
Greensboro, NC$64,917
South Bend, IN$64,910
Savannah, GA$64,833
Muskegon, MI$64,805
Birmingham, AL$64,798
Winston Salem, NC$64,764
Lake Charles, LA$64,596
Anderson, IN$64,582
Lexington, KY$64,561
Augusta, GA$64,540
Greenville, SC$64,540
Lima, OH$64,484
Wichita, KS$64,477
Tuscaloosa, AL$64,477
Columbia, SC$64,415
Springfield, OH$64,401
Asheville, NC$64,289
Bloomington, IN$64,240
Knoxville, TN$63,989
Shreveport, LA$63,982
Wilmington, NC$63,892
Roanoke, VA$63,892
Topeka, KS$63,766
Frankfort, KY$63,758
Oklahoma City, OK$63,710
Chillicothe, OH$63,682
Longview, TX$63,675
Melbourne, FL$63,668
Sioux Falls, SD$63,557
Mobile, AL$63,550
Terre Haute, IN$63,522
Altoona, PA$63,480
Amarillo, TX$63,431
Killeen, TX$63,410
Fayetteville, AR$63,355
Chattanooga, TN$63,334
Sioux City, IA$63,271
Idaho Falls, ID$63,257
Lynchburg, VA$63,201
Gainesville, FL$63,110
Portsmouth, OH$63,076
Little Rock, AR$63,062
Lafayette, LA$63,034
Youngstown, OH$63,034
Daytona Beach, FL$62,992
Clarksville, TN$62,985
Pensacola, FL$62,978
Temple, TX$62,973
Hopkinsville, KY$62,769
Erie, PA$62,755
Florence, SC$62,727
Charleston, WV$62,615
Great Falls, MT$62,580
Macon, GA$62,483
Tallahassee, FL$62,476
Fayetteville, NC$62,462
Waco, TX$62,448
Helena, MT$62,399
Pine Bluff, AR$62,373
Vincennes, IN$62,287
Lubbock, TX$62,260
Alamogordo, NM$62,218
Twin Falls, ID$62,155
Rapid City, SD$62,134
Jackson, MS$62,009
Huntington, WV$62,004
Greenville, MS$62,002
Parkersburg, WV$61,930
Montgomery, AL$61,918
Wichita Falls, TX$61,848
Springfield, MO$61,848
Biloxi, MS$61,813
Monroe, LA$61,743
Johnstown, PA$61,695
Sumter, SC$61,667
Columbus, GA$61,660
Pascagoula, MS$61,527
Abilene, TX$61,527
Kingsport, TN$61,346
Albany, GA$61,346
Gulfport, MS$61,325
Alexandria, LA$61,095
Fort Smith, AR$60,921
El Paso, TX$60,732
Las Cruces, NM$60,418
Harlingen, TX$60,241
Pocatello, ID$60,230
Florence, AL$60,139
Brownsville, TX$60,125
Mcallen, TX$59,979
Dothan, AL$59,881
Columbus, MS$59,467
Altus, OK$59,142
Lawton, OK$59,010
Pierre, SD$58,758
What Skills Can Increase a Power Plant Operator I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.08% 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.
Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.87% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
Renewable Energy (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Using renewable energy sources for more sustainable business operations to drive environmental risk and cost reduction.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting
8.08%
Preventative Maintenance
2.87%
Renewable Energy
2.07%
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 Operator I's salary.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 44%.
Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Presentation
$100,430
44%
Integrity
$79,507
14%
Flexibility
$78,810
13%
Coordination
$76,020
9%
Verbal Communication
$76,020
9%
Planning
$75,322
8%
Get Latest Data
Power Plant Operator I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Power Plant Operator I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $78,377.
While startup companies pay approximate $66,356.
Power Plant Operator I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$66,356
Growth Stage
51~500
$70,154
Established
501~5000
$75,710
Enterprise
5000+
$78,377
Power Plant Operator I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Power Plant Operator I roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Energy & Utilities,
offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely,
Power Plant Operator positions in MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Power Plant Operator I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Power Plant Operator I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$90,666
$44.0
30%
Power Plant Operator I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Power Plant Operator I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$61,830
Average$69,743/year
$79,705
$5,153
Average$5,812/month
$6,642
$1,189
Average$1,341/week
$1,533
$30
Average$34/hour
$38
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$79,705
$6,642
$1,533
$38
Average
$69,743
$5,812
$1,341
$34
25th Percentile
$61,830
$5,153
$1,189
$30
Power Plant Operator I Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Power Plant Operator I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Power Plant Operator II role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$81,126 - a projected growth of
16%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Power Plant Operator I
Salaries for a Power Plant Operator I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $65,898 in 2023
to around $64,990 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Power Plant Operator I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Power Plant Operator I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$65,898
2024
$65,759
2025
$64,990
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$65,898
2024
$65,759
2025
$64,990
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Power Plant Operator I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Power Plant Operator I
Here are companies hiring for Power Plant Operator I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$126,909/per year
Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$121,776/per year
GE Renewable Energy
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$117,881/per year
Chint Electric International Co Ltd
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$112,827/per year
Constellation Energy Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$110,892/per year
Plains GP Holdings LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$109,070/per year
Weatherford International PLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
E
$108,905/per year
Enterprise Products Partners LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$108,399/per year
Constellation Technology Ventures
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$105,977/per year
Plains All American Pipeline LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$104,755/per year
Areva SA
Energy & Utilities
the United States
H
$103,814/per year
Hf Sinclair Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
F
$103,342/per year
Florida Power & Light Co
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$102,127/per year
Greymart
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$98,523/per year
Golden Alpha Inc
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$97,825/per year
Alaska Chadux Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
M
$92,856/per year
Major Energy
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$91,703/per year
Waste Recovery Systems
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$91,604/per year
ADS-TEC Energy PLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$88,905/per year
Great American Disposal Co
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$86,937/per year
Wieland Diversified
Energy & Utilities
the United States
M
$86,069/per year
Moser Energy Systems
Energy & Utilities
the United States
L
$85,884/per year
Longevity Partners
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$82,126/per year
PricingUtilities.com
Energy & Utilities
the United States
B
$78,189/per year
Blue Water Resources
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$76,117/per year
Carbon Rivers LLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
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FAQ about Power Plant Operator I
1. Where can a Power Plant Operator I earn the most?
A Power Plant Operator I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Power Plant Operator I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Power Plant Operator I is $87,967.
2. What is the highest pay for Power Plant Operator I?
The highest pay for Power Plant Operator I is $88,775.
3. What is the lowest pay for Power Plant Operator I?
The lowest pay for Power Plant Operator I is $54,626.
4. What are the responsibilities of Power Plant Operator I?
Monitors and maintains plant equipment to ensure that power plant power delivery operations function within specification. Controls and repairs power generating facilities and systems to produce bioenergy, hydro, nuclear, solar, thermal or wind power, etc. May require an associate degree. Typically reports to a supervisor. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Power Plant Operator I?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Power Plant Operator I roles,
with salaries approximately 30% 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.
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