upper level job

How much does a Power Plant Operator I make?

As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Power Plant Operator I in the United States is $73,207. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $61,308 to $90,036, with most professionals earning between $50,475 and $105,358.

Power Plant Operator I Salaries by Percentile
Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $90,036 $7,503 $1,731 $43
Average $73,207 $6,101 $1,408 $35
25th Percentile $61,308 $5,109 $1,179 $29

Average Salary

25% $61,308 10% $50,475 90% $105,358 75% $90,036 $73,207 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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How much does a Power Plant Operator I make by hour, week, month, and year?

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Power Plant Operator I salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. Click the switch button below to see more details about Power Plant Operator I hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay and so on.

Last Updated on March 01, 2025
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

How Does Experience Level Affect a Power Plant Operator I's Salary?

An entry-level Power Plant Operator I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $71,449. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $74,063. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $76,545. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $77,289, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $77,786.

Levels Salary
Entry Level Power Plant Operator I $71,449
Intermediate Level Power Plant Operator I $74,063
Senior Level Power Plant Operator I $76,545
Specialist Level Power Plant Operator I $77,289
Expert Level Power Plant Operator I $77,786
$71,449 0 yr
$74,063 < 2 yrs
$76,545 2-4 yrs
$77,289 5-8 yrs
$77,786 > 8 yrs
Last Updated on March 01, 2025
Entry Level 2%
Mid Level 1%
Senior Level 5%
Top Level 6%
Experienced 6%
View as graph
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

How much does salary of Power Plant Operator I vary from city to city?

Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.

For example, as of March 01, 2025:
  • In San Francisco, CA, the average yearly salary for a Power Plant Operator I is $91,508.
  • In New York, NY, the average annual salary is $85,505.
  • In Boston, MA, a Power Plant Operator I earns $82,065 per year.

What is the salary trend of Power Plant Operator I?

As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Power Plant Operator I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $65,898 in 2023 to approximately $65,759 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Power Plant Operator I salary trends, click here.)

Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.

Average Annual Salary of Power Plant Operator I Over Time

2020
$???
2021
$???
2022
$???
$65,898
2023
$65,759
2024
$64,990
2025
2026
$???
Last Updated on March 01, 2025
2020
$???
2021
$???
2022
$???
2023
$65,898
2024
$65,759
2025
$64,990
2026
$???
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

Power Plant Operator I Salary by Year

Year Average Annual Salary
2020 View More
2021 View More
2022 View More
2023 $65,898
2024 $65,759
2025 $64,990
2026 View More
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

Job Openings of Power Plant Operator I

Salary.com job board provides millions of Power Plant Operator I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Power Plant Operator I job openings or enter a new job title here.

Most Common Benefits for Power Plant Operator I

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Base Salary 66.8%
Bonuses 3.8%
Social Security 5.4%
401k/403b 2.8%
Disability 0.7%
Healthcare 7.3%
Pension 4.5%
Time Off 8.7%
Core Compensation
Core Compensation Median % of Total
Base Salary $73,207 66.8%
Bonus $4,115 3.8%
Value of Benefits
Core Compensation Median % of Total
Social Security $5,915 5.4%
401K/403B $3,093 2.8%
Disability $773 0.7%
Healthcare $7,986 7.3%
Pension $4,949 4.5%
Time Off $9,516 8.7%
Total Compensation $109,554 100%
Core Compensation is based on averages for this job and does not reflect personal factors used to determine your projected salary range.
Value of Benefits indicates the employer's expected contribution and paid time off.
Last Updated on March 01, 2025

FAQ about Power Plant Operator I

1. What is the average salary of a Power Plant Operator I?

The average annual salary of Power Plant Operator I is $73,207. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Power Plant Operator I is $35; the average weekly pay of Power Plant Operator I is $1,408; the average monthly pay of Power Plant Operator I is $6,101.

2. 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 $91,874.

3. What is the highest pay for Power Plant Operator I?

The highest pay for Power Plant Operator I is $105,358.

4. What is the lowest pay for Power Plant Operator I?

The lowest pay for Power Plant Operator I is $50,475.

5. What are the responsibilities of Power Plant Operator I?

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. Being a Power Plant Operator I typically reports to a supervisor. The Power Plant Operator I 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.

6. What are the skills of Power Plant Operator I

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.)

Troubleshooting: 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.

2.)

Transportation: Refers to the mode of travel used to get from home to work most frequently. The transportation are bus, train, aeroplane, ship, car, etc while the mode of transportation refers to road, air, sea/ocean, etc.

3.)

Renewable Energy: Using renewable energy sources for more sustainable business operations to drive environmental risk and cost reduction.

About Our Data

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.

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The average salary for a Power Plant Operator I is $73,207 per year in the United States, updated at March 01, 2025.
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