Power Plant Operators pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $137,820 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Denver earn between $94,940 and $134,690.
- $80K10th
- $95K25th
- $103KMedian
- $135K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,240 | $9,187 | $53.00 |
| Median | $102,780 | $8,565 | $49.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,940 | $7,912 | $45.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $134,690 | $11,224 | $64.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Denver earn about the same as the Colorado average ($108,860) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $110,240 | $102,780 | $80,270 | $137,820 | 90 |
| Colorado | $108,860 | $102,780 | $76,900 | $137,720 | 250 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $110,240, a single filer in Denver takes home about $82,242 a year, or $6,853 a month and $3,163 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $110,240 buys what about $104,214 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Provo, UT$113,380
- Wichita, KS$75,570
- Salt Lake City, UT$123,140
- Lubbock, TX$110,650
- Manhattan, KS$88,800
- Omaha, NE$106,740
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 Denver: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Denver?
$53.00 an hour on average, and $49.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Denver?
About $82,242 a year ($6,853 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,240. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
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