Power Plant Operator III Salary in the United States
How much does a Power Plant Operator III make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Power Plant Operator III in the United States is $91,113 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.
However, a Power Plant Operator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,323
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,594 to $100,645
Key Factors That Influence Power Plant Operator III Salaries
A Power Plant Operator III'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 III'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 III 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 IIIs.
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: $114,921
San Francisco: $113,663
Oakland: $111,267
San Jose, CA$114,921
San Francisco, CA$113,663
Oakland, CA$111,267
New York, NY$104,907
Paramus, NJ$103,631
Queens Village, NY$103,626
Passaic, NJ$103,540
Bergenfield, NJ$103,532
Stamford, CT$103,331
Huntington, NY$103,294
Newark, NJ$102,621
Bridgeport, CT$102,428
Vallejo, CA$102,247
New Brunswick, NJ$102,211
Petaluma, CA$102,156
Middlesex, NJ$101,983
Somerset, NJ$101,919
Santa Cruz, CA$101,801
Boston, MA$101,245
Monterey, CA$100,925
Seattle, WA$100,716
Santa Rosa, CA$100,698
Los Angeles, CA$100,671
Juneau, AK$100,434
Washington, DC$100,334
Orange, CA$100,009
Santa Ana, CA$99,769
Long Beach, CA$99,678
Anaheim, CA$99,659
Anchorage, AK$99,614
Santa Maria, CA$99,341
Everett, WA$99,322
Danbury, CT$99,002
Bremerton, WA$98,876
Tacoma, WA$98,548
New Suffolk, NY$98,546
Sacramento, CA$98,520
Santa Barbara, CA$98,420
Trenton, NJ$98,320
San Diego, CA$98,320
Brockton, MA$98,220
Fairbanks, AK$97,997
Lompoc, CA$97,764
Lowell, MA$97,690
Ventura, CA$97,673
Nashua, NH$97,655
Stockton, CA$97,646
Modesto, CA$96,981
Poughkeepsie, NY$96,780
Olympia, WA$96,607
Kennewick, WA$96,607
New Haven, CT$96,571
Lawrence, MA$96,243
Hartford, CT$96,152
Riverside, CA$96,133
New Bedford, MA$96,042
Richland, WA$96,042
Bakersfield, CA$95,915
San Bernardino, CA$95,878
New Britain, CT$95,869
Atlantic City, NJ$95,869
New London, CT$95,833
Norwich, CT$95,805
Portsmouth, NH$95,787
Boulder, CO$95,594
Portland, OR$95,468
Worcester, MA$95,459
Minneapolis, MN$95,177
Philadelphia, PA$95,049
Honolulu, HI$94,748
Saint Paul, MN$94,705
Vineland, NJ$94,685
Providence, RI$94,420
Chicago, IL$94,156
Bellingham, WA$94,047
Springfield, MA$93,974
Baltimore, MD$93,947
Chico, CA$93,719
Pittsfield, MA$93,473
Manchester, NH$93,300
Spokane, WA$92,899
Denver, CO$92,890
Albany, NY$92,461
Troy, NY$92,425
Nassau, NY$92,328
Schenectady, NY$92,234
Wilmington, DE$92,161
Burlington, VT$92,033
Salem, OR$91,997
Portland, ME$91,714
Yakima, WA$91,623
Rochester, MN$91,341
Reno, NV$91,295
Fresno, CA$91,295
Milwaukee, WI$91,213
Detroit, MI$91,122
Ann Arbor, MI$91,107
Allentown, PA$91,095
Colorado Springs, CO$90,940
Syracuse, NY$90,894
Carson City, NV$90,894
Houston, TX$90,767
Eugene, OR$90,721
Gary, IN$90,612
Springfield, OR$90,539
Bismarck, ND$90,521
Galveston, TX$90,457
Medford, OR$90,320
Fort Collins, CO$90,284
Concord, NH$90,238
Austin, TX$90,211
Mesa, AZ$90,020
Reading, PA$90,011
Phoenix, AZ$90,001
Dallas, TX$89,974
Saint Cloud, MN$89,887
Madison, WI$89,765
Utica, NY$89,519
Rochester, NY$89,373
Des Moines, IA$89,364
Raleigh, NC$89,355
Atlanta, GA$89,218
Battle Creek, MI$89,191
Salt Lake City, UT$89,163
Lancaster, PA$89,027
Harrisburg, PA$88,899
Kansas City, MO$88,808
Champaign, IL$88,790
Kansas City, KS$88,790
Fort Worth, TX$88,781
Columbus, OH$88,765
Boca Raton, FL$88,744
Pittsburgh, PA$88,708
Richmond, VA$88,671
Indianapolis, IN$88,653
Cleveland, OH$88,644
Las Vegas, NV$88,535
Cincinnati, OH$88,535
Petersburg, VA$88,398
Huntsville, AL$88,261
Lansing, MI$88,200
Lebanon, PA$88,188
Pueblo, CO$88,179
Appleton, WI$88,152
Buffalo, NY$88,115
Dayton, OH$88,088
Racine, WI$88,070
Charlotte, NC$88,061
Saint Louis, MO$88,033
York, PA$87,979
Elkhart, IN$87,979
Gastonia, NC$87,961
Billings, MT$87,940
Beaumont, TX$87,915
Lorain, OH$87,897
Benton Harbor, MI$87,878
Toledo, OH$87,860
Binghamton, NY$87,815
Rock Hill, SC$87,806
Rockford, IL$87,760
Springfield, IL$87,724
Elyria, OH$87,714
Fargo, ND$87,714
Flagstaff, AZ$87,651
Fort Lauderdale, FL$87,596
Duluth, MN$87,541
Miami, FL$87,541
Cheyenne, WY$87,478
Grand Forks, ND$87,478
Bangor, ME$87,277
Cedar Rapids, IA$87,177
Durham, NC$87,139
Louisville, KY$87,131
Grand Rapids, MI$87,113
Hialeah, FL$87,104
Casper, WY$86,976
Scranton, PA$86,867
New Orleans, LA$86,840
Virginia Beach, VA$86,831
Akron, OH$86,785
Peoria, IL$86,667
Sarasota, FL$86,648
Nashville, TN$86,585
Omaha, NE$86,585
Green Bay, WI$86,585
Baton Rouge, LA$86,539
Charleston, SC$86,521
Jamestown, NY$86,475
Davenport, IA$86,475
Tucson, AZ$86,430
Saint Petersburg, FL$86,375
Tampa, FL$86,357
Evansville, IN$86,302
Port Arthur, TX$86,302
Bradenton, FL$86,266
Santa Fe, NM$86,102
Orlando, FL$85,938
Clearwater, FL$85,910
Canton, OH$85,719
La Crosse, WI$85,719
Albuquerque, NM$85,664
Newport News, VA$85,655
High Point, NC$85,628
Ogden, UT$85,592
Corpus Christi, TX$85,519
Norfolk, VA$85,464
Laramie, WY$85,464
Rock Island, IL$85,409
Saginaw, MI$85,391
Jacksonville, FL$85,382
Salisbury, NC$85,364
Boise, ID$85,346
Moline, IL$85,300
Fort Myers, FL$85,273
Memphis, TN$85,254
Tulsa, OK$85,209
Waterloo, IA$85,154
Spartanburg, SC$85,063
Lincoln, NE$85,018
Fort Wayne, IN$84,999
Provo, UT$84,990
Cedar Falls, IA$84,881
San Antonio, TX$84,844
Greensboro, NC$84,808
South Bend, IN$84,799
Savannah, GA$84,699
Muskegon, MI$84,662
Birmingham, AL$84,653
Winston Salem, NC$84,608
Lake Charles, LA$84,389
Anderson, IN$84,371
Lexington, KY$84,343
Augusta, GA$84,316
Greenville, SC$84,316
Lima, OH$84,243
Wichita, KS$84,234
Tuscaloosa, AL$84,234
Columbia, SC$84,152
Springfield, OH$84,134
Asheville, NC$83,988
Bloomington, IN$83,924
Knoxville, TN$83,596
Shreveport, LA$83,587
Wilmington, NC$83,469
Roanoke, VA$83,469
Topeka, KS$83,305
Frankfort, KY$83,295
Oklahoma City, OK$83,232
Chillicothe, OH$83,195
Longview, TX$83,186
Melbourne, FL$83,177
Sioux Falls, SD$83,031
Mobile, AL$83,022
Terre Haute, IN$82,986
Altoona, PA$82,931
Amarillo, TX$82,867
Killeen, TX$82,840
Fayetteville, AR$82,767
Chattanooga, TN$82,740
Sioux City, IA$82,658
Idaho Falls, ID$82,639
Lynchburg, VA$82,567
Gainesville, FL$82,448
Portsmouth, OH$82,403
Little Rock, AR$82,384
Lafayette, LA$82,348
Youngstown, OH$82,348
Daytona Beach, FL$82,293
Clarksville, TN$82,284
Pensacola, FL$82,275
Temple, TX$82,269
Hopkinsville, KY$82,002
Erie, PA$81,983
Florence, SC$81,947
Charleston, WV$81,801
Great Falls, MT$81,756
Macon, GA$81,628
Tallahassee, FL$81,619
Fayetteville, NC$81,601
Waco, TX$81,583
Helena, MT$81,519
Pine Bluff, AR$81,484
Vincennes, IN$81,373
Lubbock, TX$81,337
Alamogordo, NM$81,282
Twin Falls, ID$81,200
Rapid City, SD$81,173
Jackson, MS$81,009
Huntington, WV$81,002
Greenville, MS$80,999
Parkersburg, WV$80,907
Montgomery, AL$80,890
Wichita Falls, TX$80,799
Springfield, MO$80,799
Biloxi, MS$80,753
Monroe, LA$80,662
Johnstown, PA$80,599
Sumter, SC$80,562
Columbus, GA$80,553
Pascagoula, MS$80,380
Abilene, TX$80,380
Kingsport, TN$80,143
Albany, GA$80,143
Gulfport, MS$80,116
Alexandria, LA$79,815
Fort Smith, AR$79,587
El Paso, TX$79,341
Las Cruces, NM$78,931
Harlingen, TX$78,700
Pocatello, ID$78,685
Florence, AL$78,567
Brownsville, TX$78,549
Mcallen, TX$78,357
Dothan, AL$78,230
Columbus, MS$77,688
Altus, OK$77,264
Lawton, OK$77,091
Pierre, SD$76,763
What Skills Can Increase a Power Plant Operator III's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 9.99% 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.
Installation (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Certification Programs (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): A certificate program is a specialized education designed to develop or strengthen specific career skills. Considered as continuing education in some cases because it builds on your knowledge of a particular career or industry.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting
9.99%
Installation
3.29%
Certification Programs
1.77%
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 III's salary.
Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Standard Operating Procedures: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Process Improvement
$101,135
11%
Standard Operating Procedures
$98,402
8%
Coordination
$96,580
6%
Time Management
$96,580
6%
Gathering Information
$96,580
6%
Critical Thinking
$96,580
6%
Get Latest Data
Power Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Power Plant Operator III salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $102,393.
While startup companies pay approximate $86,689.
Power Plant Operator III Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$86,689
Growth Stage
51~500
$91,650
Established
501~5000
$98,908
Enterprise
5000+
$102,393
Power Plant Operator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Power Plant Operator III roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, MFG Nondurable,
offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely,
Power Plant Operator positions in Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Power Plant Operator III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Power Plant Operator III
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable
$109,336
$53.0
20%
Power Plant Operator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Power Plant Operator III'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
$83,594
Average$91,113/year
$100,645
$6,966
Average$7,593/month
$8,387
$1,608
Average$1,752/week
$1,935
$40
Average$44/hour
$48
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$100,645
$8,387
$1,935
$48
Average
$91,113
$7,593
$1,752
$44
25th Percentile
$83,594
$6,966
$1,608
$40
Power Plant Operator III Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Power Plant Operator III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Power Plant Operator IV role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$105,474 - a projected growth of
16%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Power Plant Operator III
Salaries for a Power Plant Operator III can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $77,599 in 2023
to around $77,551 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Power Plant Operator III salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Power Plant Operator III Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$77,599
2024
$77,926
2025
$77,551
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$77,599
2024
$77,926
2025
$77,551
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Power Plant Operator III
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Power Plant Operator III
Here are companies hiring for Power Plant Operator III 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 III
1. Where can a Power Plant Operator III earn the most?
A Power Plant Operator III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Power Plant Operator III is $114,921.
2. What is the highest pay for Power Plant Operator III?
The highest pay for Power Plant Operator III is $109,323.
3. What is the lowest pay for Power Plant Operator III?
The lowest pay for Power Plant Operator III is $76,748.
4. What are the responsibilities of Power Plant Operator III?
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. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Power Plant Operator III?
The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Power Plant Operator III roles,
with salaries approximately 20% 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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