What are the main factors that influence a Power Plant Operator I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Power Plant Operator 's salary?

A Power Plant Operator 's salary grows with experience: a Power Plant Operator I (0-1 years)earns $70,594, a Power Plant Operator II (1-3 years)earns $82,118, a Power Plant Operator III (3-5 years)earns $92,232, a Power Plant Operator IV (5-7 years)earns $106,763, a Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I (7+ years)earns $123,281,

What are the highest paying states for a Power Plant Operator I?

Power Plant Operator I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Power Plant Operator I roles are District of Columbia $77,182, California $76,889, Massachusetts $75,864. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Power Plant Operator roles make?

Salaries for Power Plant Operator level roles vary by specialization: Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I: $121,735; Power Plant Operator IV: $105,424; Nuclear Power Plant Operator: $91,500; Power Plant Operator III: $91,075; Power Plant Operator II: $81,088.

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Power Plant Operator I Salary in Delaware

How much does a Power Plant Operator I make in Delaware?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Power Plant Operator I in Delaware is $70,594 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): $89,860
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,589 to $80,679
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,300

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Power Plant Operator I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$80,679	$6,723	$1,552	$39
Average	$70,594	$5,883	$1,358	$34
25th Percentile	$62,589	$5,216	$1,204	$30

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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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): $70,594
Power Plant Operator II (1-3 years): $82,118
Power Plant Operator III (3-5 years): $92,232
Power Plant Operator IV (5-7 years): $106,763
Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I (7+ years): $123,281

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Power Plant Operator I	0-1 years	$70,594
Power Plant Operator II	1-3 years	$82,118
Power Plant Operator III	3-5 years	$92,232
Power Plant Operator IV	5-7 years	$106,763
Power Plant Operations Shift Supervisor I	7+ years	$123,281

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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:

District of Columbia: $77,182.
California: $76,889.
Massachusetts: $75,864.

District of Columbia $77,182 California $76,889 Massachusetts $75,864 Washington $75,585 New Jersey $75,558 Alaska $75,460 Connecticut $74,498 New York $74,108

Hawaii $72,860 Rhode Island $72,274 Maryland $71,877 Minnesota $71,333 Colorado $71,124 Illinois $71,054 Oregon $70,789 Delaware $70,594

New Hampshire $70,472 Virginia $70,197 Pennsylvania $69,395 Nevada $68,991 North Dakota $68,859 Michigan $68,649 Wisconsin $68,573 Vermont $68,419

Texas $67,994 Maine $67,966 Arizona $67,924 Ohio $67,876 Georgia $67,234 Indiana $66,914 Wyoming $66,851 Utah $66,753

Iowa $66,712 Kansas $66,377 Louisiana $66,279 North Carolina $66,244 Missouri $66,231 Florida $65,959 Montana $65,812 Nebraska $65,673

Kentucky $65,596 South Carolina $65,317 Tennessee $65,143 Idaho $65,073 New Mexico $64,564 Oklahoma $64,453 Alabama $64,042 South Dakota $63,352

Arkansas $62,975 West Virginia $62,773 Mississippi $62,166

Top Paying Cities for Power Plant Operator Is

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:

Lincoln: $70,276
Little Creek: $70,791
Magnolia: $70,689

Lincoln, DE $70,276 Little Creek, DE $70,791 Magnolia, DE $70,689 Milford, DE $70,455 Marydel, DE $70,571 Millsboro, DE $69,982 Millville, DE $70,090 Milton, DE $70,211

Nassau, DE $70,262 Ocean View, DE $70,078 Rehoboth Beach, DE $70,212 Seaford, DE $70,252 Selbyville, DE $69,961 Smyrna, DE $70,840 Viola, DE $70,513 Woodside, DE $70,703

Bear, DE $70,540 Newark, DE $70,513 Claymont, DE $70,658 Delaware City, DE $70,584 Hockessin, DE $70,507 Kirkwood, DE $70,571 Middletown, DE $70,598 Montchanin, DE $70,523

New Castle, DE $70,534 Odessa, DE $70,633 Port Penn, DE $70,680 Rockland, DE $70,530 Saint Georges, DE $70,575 Townsend, DE $70,684 Winterthur, DE $70,539 Lewes, DE $70,238

Wilmington, DE $70,511 Dover, DE $70,791 Dover Afb, DE $70,418 Bethany Beach, DE $70,004 Bethel, DE $70,076 Bridgeville, DE $70,242 Camden Wyoming, DE $70,592 Cheswold, DE $70,768

Clayton, DE $70,770 Dagsboro, DE $69,955 Delmar, DE $69,843 Ellendale, DE $70,055 Felton, DE $70,449 Fenwick Island, DE $69,970 Frankford, DE $69,848 Frederica, DE $70,519

Georgetown, DE $69,929 Greenwood, DE $70,253 Harbeson, DE $70,003 Harrington, DE $70,360 Hartly, DE $70,579 Houston, DE $70,260 Kenton, DE $70,773 Laurel, DE $69,887

Yorklyn, DE $70,528

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.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

$62,589

Average $70,594/year

$80,679

$5,216

Average $5,883/month

$6,723

$1,204

Average $1,358/week

$1,552

$30

Average $34/hour

$39

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$80,679	$6,723	$1,552	$39
Average	$70,594	$5,883	$1,358	$34
25th Percentile	$62,589	$5,216	$1,204	$30

Power Plant Operator I Salary Growth & Career Path

Power Plant Operator I

Power Plant Operator II

Power Plant Operations Manager

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 $82,118 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Power Plant Operator I

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