Power Plant Operators pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,290 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Detroit earn between $106,000 and $130,350.
- $79K10th
- $106K25th
- $108KMedian
- $130K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $111,910 | $9,326 | $53.80 |
| Median | $108,050 | $9,004 | $51.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,000 | $8,833 | $50.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,350 | $10,862 | $62.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Detroit earn 6% more than the Michigan average ($105,460) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $111,910 | $108,050 | $79,340 | $132,290 | 300 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $111,910, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $80,502 a year, or $6,709 a month and $3,096 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $111,910 buys what about $111,577 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 1st of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Detroit: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Detroit?
$53.80 an hour on average, and $51.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Detroit?
About $80,502 a year ($6,709 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $111,910. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do power plant operators earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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