Power Plant Operators pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,800 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in San Francisco earn between $104,720 and $171,800.
- $77K10th
- $105K25th
- $133KMedian
- $172K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $130,890 | $10,908 | $62.93 |
| Median | $132,600 | $11,050 | $63.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,720 | $8,727 | $50.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,800 | $14,317 | $82.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Power plant operators in San Francisco earn 18% more than the California average ($110,960) and 31% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $130,890 | $132,600 | $77,470 | $171,800 | 300 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $130,890, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $92,649 a year, or $7,721 a month and $3,563 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 Francisco a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $130,890 buys what about $113,214 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd 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 Francisco: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in San Francisco?
$62.93 an hour on average, and $63.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $92,649 a year ($7,721 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $130,890. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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