Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Utility Operator in Virginia is $63,806 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, an Utility Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI-Powered Talent
Utility Operator Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $69,714 | $5,810 | $1,341 | $34 |
| Average | $63,806 | $5,317 | $1,227 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,836 | $4,820 | $1,112 | $28 |
Prestige Consumer Healthcare - Lynchburg, VA
Government Jobs - Mechanicsville, VA
Hanover County Government - Doswell, VA
Centuri Construction Group - Hampton, VA
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Utility O... Level Utility Operator | $64,221 |
| Field Ope... Level Utility Operator | $71,896 |
| Field Ope... Level Utility Operator | $88,473 |
| Field Ope... Level Utility Operator | $97,684 |
| Field Ope... Level Utility Operator | $115,367 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Utility Operators. 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:
For Utility Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Utility Operator positions in Software & Networking or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Utility Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | $89,328 | $43.0 | 40% |
| Internet | $82,948 | $40.0 | 30% |
| Biotechnology | $79,757 | $38.0 | 25% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $79,757 | $38.0 | 25% |
| Energy & Utilities | $73,377 | $35.0 | 15% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $69,714 | $5,810 | $1,341 | $34 |
| Average | $63,806 | $5,317 | $1,227 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,836 | $4,820 | $1,112 | $28 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Utility Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Cornerstone Building Brands
Rocky Mount, VA
Cornerstone Building Brands | Rocky Mount, VA
Extrusion Forklift Utility Operator. The Sit-Down Forklift Operator is responsible to provide support to the supply chain through collecting, loading, ship... more
6 Days Ago
PlanIT Group, LLC
Manassas, VA
PlanIT Group, LLC | Manassas, VA
Utility Plant Operator. PlanIT Group is seeking a skilled and experienced Utility Plant Operator to join our team. The successful candidate will be respons... more
7 Days Ago
US Government Jobs
Round Hill, VA
US Government Jobs | Round Hill, VA
Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center Position. In this position you will work as a member of the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center (MWEOC), Fa... more
7 Days Ago
Government Jobs
Herndon, VA
Government Jobs | Herndon, VA
Job Title. The purpose of this position is to operate light to medium weight automotive equipment in performing maintenance and repair. Employees in this c... more
8 Days Ago
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Dulles, VA
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority | Dulles, VA
HVAC Utility Operator. Compensation Grade: T19. Salary Range: $35.01-$45.50. Opening Date: July 17, 2026. Closing Date: Please Note: All job announcements ... more
5 Days Ago
Muller, Inc.
Manassas, VA
Muller, Inc. | Manassas, VA
Job Description. Job Description. We are hiring experienced dry utilities operators, the ideal candidate will possess extremely high technical knowledge fo... more
5 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
