Power Plant Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,690 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Chicago earn between $107,600 and $127,890.
- $89K10th
- $108K25th
- $124KMedian
- $128K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $116,150 | $9,679 | $55.84 |
| Median | $123,540 | $10,295 | $59.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $107,600 | $8,967 | $51.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,890 | $10,658 | $61.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Chicago earn 12% more than the Illinois average ($103,620) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $116,150 | $123,540 | $88,910 | $128,690 | 640 |
| Illinois | $103,620 | $104,440 | $77,330 | $128,040 | 1,160 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $116,150, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $84,933 a year, or $7,078 a month and $3,267 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $87,087 | $7,257 |
| Working in IL | $84,933 | $7,078 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $116,150 buys what about $112,119 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$116,150
- Springfield$101,380
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 Chicago: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Chicago?
$55.84 an hour on average, and $59.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $107,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $84,933 a year ($7,078 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $116,150.
Do power plant operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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