Apprentice Power Plant Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Apprentice Power Plant Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Apprentice Power Plant Operator in the United States is $73,586 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, an Apprentice Power Plant Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $94,491
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,407 to $84,529
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,961
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View as table View as graph 25% $65,407 10% $57,961 90% $94,491 75% $84,529 $73,586 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Apprentice Power Plant Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $84,529 $7,044 $1,626 $41
Average $73,586 $6,132 $1,415 $35
25th Percentile $65,407 $5,451 $1,258 $31
Check out Apprentice Power Plant Operator Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Apprentice Power Plant Operator Salaries

An Apprentice Power Plant Operator'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 Apprentice Power Plant Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Apprentice Power Plant Operator'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $70,704
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,370
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $73,890
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,346
  • Expert (over 8 years): $74,650
Levels Salary
Entry Level Apprentice Power Plant Operator$70,704
Intermediate Level Apprentice Power Plant Operator$72,370
Senior Level Apprentice Power Plant Operator$73,890
Specialist Level Apprentice Power Plant Operator$74,346
Expert Level Apprentice Power Plant Operator$74,650
$70,704 0 yr
$72,370 < 2 yrs
$73,890 2-4 yrs
$74,346 5-8 yrs
$74,650 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Apprentice Power Plant Operator 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 Apprentice Power Plant Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $81,475.
  • California: $81,165.
  • Massachusetts: $80,084.

Top Paying Cities for Apprentice Power Plant Operators

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: $92,814
  • San Francisco: $91,902
  • Oakland: $89,863

What Skills Can Increase an Apprentice Power Plant Operator'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 an Apprentice Power Plant Operator'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
$105,964
44%
Integrity
$83,888
14%
Flexibility
$83,152
13%
Coordination
$80,209
9%
Verbal Communication
$80,209
9%
Planning
$79,473
8%
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Apprentice Power Plant Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Apprentice Power Plant Operator'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Apprentice Power Plant Operator

Salaries for an Apprentice Power Plant Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $67,473 in 2023 to around $66,543 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Apprentice Power Plant Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Apprentice Power Plant Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$67,473
2024
$67,330
2025
$66,543
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $67,473
2024 $67,330
2025 $66,543
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Apprentice Power Plant Operator

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

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.)

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