Power Plant Operators pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,040 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Buffalo earn between $74,950 and $127,040.
- $67K10th
- $75K25th
- $86KMedian
- $127K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,400 | $8,033 | $46.35 |
| Median | $86,280 | $7,190 | $41.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,950 | $6,246 | $36.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,040 | $10,587 | $61.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Buffalo earn 11% less than the New York average ($108,880) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $96,400 | $86,280 | $67,250 | $127,040 | 80 |
| New York | $108,880 | $106,990 | $64,580 | $142,310 | 1,960 |
| 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $96,400, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $71,912 a year, or $5,993 a month and $2,766 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $96,400 buys what about $100,580 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 4th of 8 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($123,810).
- New York$123,810
- Albany$106,050
- Kiryas Joel$104,940
- Buffalo$96,400
- Syracuse$93,580
- Rochester$85,960
- Watertown$79,290
- Glens Falls$67,360
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 Buffalo: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Buffalo?
$46.35 an hour on average, and $41.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $71,912 a year ($5,993 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,400. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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