Power Plant Operators pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,150 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Rochester earn between $62,350 and $101,960.
- $62K10th
- $62K25th
- $81KMedian
- $102K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,960 | $7,163 | $41.33 |
| Median | $80,820 | $6,735 | $38.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,350 | $5,196 | $29.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,960 | $8,497 | $49.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Rochester earn 21% less than the New York average ($108,880) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $85,960 | $80,820 | $62,350 | $113,150 | 40 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $85,960, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $65,180 a year, or $5,432 a month and $2,507 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 Rochester a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $85,960 buys what about $88,587 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 6th 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 Rochester: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Rochester?
$41.33 an hour on average, and $38.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Rochester?
About $65,180 a year ($5,432 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,960. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.4%.
- 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 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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