The average salary for a power plant operator in Washington is around $131,620 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $131,620.
Wages typically start from $85,390 and go up to $168,610.
59% above national average Updated in 2025
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$81.06 per hour
$168,610 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$73.13 per hour
$152,110 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$63.28 per hour
$131,620 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$49.25 per hour
$102,440 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$41.05 per hour
$85,390 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Power plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $99,200 |
| Nebraska | $98,210 |
| Rhode Island | $98,050 |
| Arkansas | $97,760 |
| Connecticut | $97,460 |
| West Virginia | $97,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,800 |
| Minnesota | $94,390 |
| Florida | $94,290 |
| Kentucky | $93,400 |
| Alaska | $88,870 |
| Oklahoma | $88,590 |
| Arizona | $84,970 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 |
| Maine | $81,060 |
| South Dakota | $80,310 |
| Kansas | $79,980 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 |
| Vermont | $78,240 |
| Virginia | $73,640 |
| Wisconsin | $66,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,290 |
| Washington | $131,620 |
| Nevada | $131,400 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 |
| Idaho | $124,440 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 |
| Maryland | $111,260 |
| Oregon | $109,830 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 |
| Georgia | $107,580 |
| Utah | $107,120 |
| Alabama | $107,080 |
| Indiana | $107,000 |
| New York | $106,990 |
| Montana | $106,040 |
| Michigan | $105,820 |
| New Mexico | $105,510 |
| California | $105,210 |
| Illinois | $104,440 |
| Ohio | $104,160 |
| Delaware | $103,010 |
| Colorado | $102,780 |
| Texas | $102,510 |
| Mississippi | $102,400 |
| Missouri | $101,900 |
| Louisiana | $101,170 |
| Iowa | $100,500 |
| Massachusetts | $100,140 |
How do power plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Power plant operators earn about the same as related careers in Washington. On average, they make less than industrial production managers but more than occupational health specialists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial production manager salary | $145K |
| Biomass power plant manager salary | $145K |
| Power plant operator salary | $132K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $137K |
| Logistician salary | $107K |
| Operations research analyst salary | $98K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $103K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)