Power Plant Operators pay range in Bay City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,090 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Bay City earn between $98,930 and $124,090.
- $99K10th
- $99K25th
- $99KMedian
- $124K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,870 | $8,739 | $50.42 |
| Median | $98,930 | $8,244 | $47.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,930 | $8,244 | $47.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $124,090 | $10,341 | $59.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Bay City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Bay City earn about the same as the Michigan average ($105,460) and 5% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | $104,870 | $98,930 | $98,930 | $124,090 | 50 |
| Michigan | $105,460 | $105,820 | $74,520 | $131,250 | 1,220 |
| 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 Bay City
On the average salary of $104,870, a single filer in Bay City takes home about $78,396 a year, or $6,533 a month and $3,015 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).
Is Bay City a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bay City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.9), so the average $104,870 buys what about $114,087 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Bay City ($45,620). A typical home costs $186,601, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Michigan cities
Bay City ranks 2nd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Detroit pays the most ($111,910).
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 Bay City: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Bay City?
$50.42 an hour on average, and $47.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Bay City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Bay City?
About $78,396 a year ($6,533 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,870.
Do power plant operators earn more in Bay City than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Bay City, MI (13020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 8.24, this job is 8.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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