51-8013

Power Plant Operators

Role Overview

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. Excludes “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators” (51-8011).

Recommended Majors

Power Plant Technology/Technician. Hydroelectric Energy Technology/Technician.

Related Careers

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Salary by State (top paying)

State	Median salary
Washington	$124,050
New York	$121,760
Hawaii	$115,190
Oregon	$114,500
New Jersey	$109,970
North Dakota	$109,340
Tennessee	$107,380
Arizona	$107,210
Nevada	$106,990
Maryland	$106,300
California	$105,520
South Dakota	$105,400
Wyoming	$105,330
Michigan	$103,880
Utah	$103,760

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for this career?

Projected growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections. Use the sidebar for median salary and growth rate.

How does salary vary by state?

See the Salary by State table above for state-level median wages from OEWS data.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), BLS Employment Projections.

Median Annual Salary

$99,670

Projected Growth (10yr)

+-11.2%

Avg. annual openings

2.5k

Market Insight

Explore salary and growth data to understand demand and earning potential for this role.