Power Plant Operators pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,690 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Las Cruces earn between $43,300 and $97,180.
- $43K10th
- $43K25th
- $58KMedian
- $97K75th
- $122K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,360 | $5,780 | $33.35 |
| Median | $57,980 | $4,832 | $27.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,300 | $3,608 | $20.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,180 | $8,098 | $46.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Las Cruces earn 31% less than the New Mexico average ($99,890) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -43% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $69,360 | $57,980 | $43,300 | $121,690 | 30 |
| New Mexico | $99,890 | $105,510 | $46,350 | $121,690 | 130 |
| 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 Las Cruces
On the average salary of $69,360, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $55,531 a year, or $4,628 a month and $2,136 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Las Cruces a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $69,360 buys what about $76,886 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- El Paso, TX$97,980
- Lubbock, TX$110,650
- Phoenix, AZ$78,110
- Denver, CO$110,240
- San Antonio, TX$95,970
- Las Vegas, NV$126,340
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 Las Cruces: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Las Cruces?
$33.35 an hour on average, and $27.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $55,531 a year ($4,628 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,360.
Do power plant operators earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% less 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 Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.99, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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