Power Plant Operators pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $211,300 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Sacramento earn between $84,500 and $179,330.
- $75K10th
- $84K25th
- $133KMedian
- $179K75th
- $211K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,310 | $11,276 | $65.05 |
| Median | $133,380 | $11,115 | $64.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,500 | $7,042 | $40.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $179,330 | $14,944 | $86.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Sacramento earn 22% more than the California average ($110,960) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $135,310 | $133,380 | $75,070 | $211,300 | 210 |
| California | $110,960 | $105,210 | $63,510 | $171,800 | 2,610 |
| United States | $99,790 | $102,040 | $61,790 | $131,940 | 29,320 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Power Plant Operators salary after taxes in Sacramento
On the average salary of $135,310, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $95,259 a year, or $7,938 a month and $3,664 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Sacramento a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $135,310 buys what about $126,849 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 1st of 9 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Sacramento$135,310
- Fresno$131,280
- San Francisco$130,890
- Stockton$113,020
- Los Angeles$105,840
- San Jose$104,340
- Bakersfield$96,390
- San Diego$95,380
- Riverside$94,120
Highest-paying cities for power plant operators
Wenatchee, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,930).
- Wenatchee, WA$150,930
- Sacramento, CA$135,310
- Seattle, WA$132,410
- Fresno, CA$131,280
- San Francisco, CA$130,890
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Power Plant Operators salary in Sacramento: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Sacramento?
$65.05 an hour on average, and $64.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $95,259 a year ($7,938 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,310. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% more than the U.S. average for this job ($99,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8013; area Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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