Power Plant Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Power Plant Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Power Plant Manager in the United States is $166,472 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $192,370
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $153,054 to $180,028
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $140,838

Key Factors That Influence Power Plant Manager Salaries

A Power Plant Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Power Plant Managers

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: $209,971
  • San Francisco: $207,672
  • Oakland: $203,296

What Skills Can Increase a Power Plant Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Effective Communication (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Sharing information effectively and collaboratively.
  • Environmental Compliance (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements such as site permits to operate. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related, environmental concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being aligned with corporate performance goals and being integrated to some extent to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps, and gaps. Compliance with the above requirements and obligations, requires meeting certain conditions. Typically, these include: Managing monitoring programmes or schedules, ensuring that the monitoring required in the permit has been done, at the correct locations, for the correct parameters, and at the correct frequency Pre-processing, performing calculations and validating the data for compliance with any alert or reporting levels Generating routine compliance reports for authorities.
  • HSE Compliance (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Implementing HSE policies and procedures to ensure the organization's strategies, products, and services are safe for people and the environment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Effective Communication 6.09%
Environmental Compliance 6.09%
HSE Compliance 6.09%

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 Manager's salary.

  • HSE Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Financial Statements: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Environmental Health: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
HSE Compliance $189,778
14%
Financial Statements $183,119
10%
Environmental Health $178,125
7%

Power Plant Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Power Plant Manager roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, MFG Nondurable, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Power Plant Manager positions in Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Power Plant Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Power Plant Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$183,119$88.010%
MFG Durable$174,796$84.05%

How Education impacts a Power Plant Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Power Plant Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Power Plant Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $151,998 and $159,895).

Power Plant Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Power Plant Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 35.0%
High School 35.0%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 42.5%
Masters 10.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Power Plant Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Power Plant Manager'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 September 01, 2026
$153,054
Average $166,472/year
$180,028
$12,755
Average $13,873/month
$15,002
$2,943
Average $3,201/week
$3,462
$74
Average $80/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $180,028 $15,002 $3,462 $87
Average $166,472 $13,873 $3,201 $80
25th Percentile $153,054 $12,755 $2,943 $74

Most common benefits for Power Plant Manager

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

Common company salaries for Power Plant Manager

Here are companies hiring for Power Plant Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Power Plant Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Power Plant Manager?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Power Plant Manager roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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.

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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