Power Plant Operators pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,260 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in San Diego earn between $79,090 and $102,510.
- $62K10th
- $79K25th
- $99KMedian
- $103K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,380 | $7,948 | $45.86 |
| Median | $99,470 | $8,289 | $47.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,090 | $6,591 | $38.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,510 | $8,542 | $49.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Power plant operators in San Diego earn 14% less than the California average ($110,960) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $95,380 | $99,470 | $62,470 | $125,260 | 90 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $95,380, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $71,152 a year, or $5,929 a month and $2,737 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 San Diego a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $95,380 buys what about $85,247 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 8th of 9 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($135,310).
- 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 San Diego: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in San Diego?
$45.86 an hour on average, and $47.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in San Diego?
About $71,152 a year ($5,929 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,380. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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