Utility Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Utility Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Utility Operator in the United States is $63,231 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $74,405
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,318 to $69,080
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,935
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View as table View as graph 25% $57,318 10% $51,935 90% $74,405 75% $69,080 $63,231 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Utility Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $69,080 $5,757 $1,328 $33
Average $63,231 $5,269 $1,216 $30
25th Percentile $57,318 $4,777 $1,102 $28
Check out Utility Operator Job Openings in the United States
HOSPITAL UTILITY SHUTDOWN MANAGER

University of Washington - SEATTLE, WA

Board Operator

Marathon Petroleum - DALLAS, WV

Terminal Operator

ConGlobal - LAWRENCE, KS

Terminal Operator

ConGlobal - SHAWNEE MISSION, KS

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Key Factors That Influence Utility Operator Salaries

An Utility 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Utility Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Utility 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): $63,231
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,829
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,235
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $65,517
  • Expert (over 8 years): $65,704
Levels Salary
Entry Level Utility Operator$63,231
Intermediate Level Utility Operator$63,829
Senior Level Utility Operator$65,235
Specialist Level Utility Operator$65,517
Expert Level Utility Operator$65,704
$63,231 0 yr
$63,829 < 2 yrs
$65,235 2-4 yrs
$65,517 5-8 yrs
$65,704 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Utility 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: $79,753
  • San Francisco: $78,969
  • Oakland: $77,217

What Skills Can Increase an Utility Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.43% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Schematic (Mentioned in 1.84% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
  • Customer Satisfaction (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): Customer satisfaction (often abbreviated as CSAT, more correctly CSat) is a term frequently used in marketing. It is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as "the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals." The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) endorses the definitions, purposes, and constructs of classes of measures that appear in Marketing Metrics as part of its ongoing Common Language in Marketing Project. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 71 percent responded that they found a customer satisfaction metric very useful in managing and monitoring their businesses. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is often part of a Balanced Scorecard. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 8.43%
Schematic 1.84%
Customer Satisfaction 1.13%
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 Utility Operator's salary.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Calibration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Customer Satisfaction
$68,289
8%
Project Management
$67,657
7%
Calibration
$66,392
5%
Technical Support
$66,392
5%
Schematic
$65,760
4%
Scheduling
$65,760
4%
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How Education impacts an Utility Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Utility Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Utility Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $60,229 and $64,339).

Utility Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Utility Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.4%
High School 44.4%
Associates 7.4%
Bachelors 40.7%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Utility Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Utility 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 Utility Operator

Salaries for an Utility Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,860 in 2023 to around $44,884 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Utility Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Utility Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,860
2024
$46,047
2025
$44,884
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,860
2024 $46,047
2025 $44,884
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Utility Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Utility Operator

Here are companies hiring for Utility Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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