Power Plant Operators pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,850 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Boston earn between $81,440 and $122,860.
- $69K10th
- $81K25th
- $104KMedian
- $123K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,800 | $8,567 | $49.42 |
| Median | $103,900 | $8,658 | $49.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,440 | $6,787 | $39.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $122,860 | $10,238 | $59.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Boston earn 3% more than the Massachusetts average ($99,500) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $102,800 | $103,900 | $68,550 | $130,850 | 640 |
| Massachusetts | $99,500 | $100,140 | $68,150 | $130,850 | 880 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $102,800, a single filer in Boston takes home about $76,330 a year, or $6,361 a month and $2,936 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $81,150 | $6,762 |
| Working in MA | $76,330 | $6,361 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $102,800 buys what about $94,951 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 3 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$102,800
- Worcester$95,390
- Springfield$93,320
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 Boston: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Boston?
$49.42 an hour on average, and $49.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Boston?
About $76,330 a year ($6,361 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,800. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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