Power Plant Operators pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $128,560 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Philadelphia earn between $92,890 and $123,130.
- $77K10th
- $93K25th
- $101KMedian
- $123K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,780 | $8,648 | $49.89 |
| Median | $101,350 | $8,446 | $48.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $92,890 | $7,741 | $44.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,130 | $10,261 | $59.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Philadelphia earn 8% more than the Pennsylvania average ($96,280) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $103,780 | $101,350 | $77,320 | $128,560 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,280 | $95,800 | $64,010 | $128,180 | 1,010 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $103,780, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $78,653 a year, or $6,554 a month and $3,025 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $78,653 | $6,554 |
| Working in NJ | $77,418 | $6,452 |
| Working in MD | $77,120 | $6,427 |
| Working in DE | $76,221 | $6,352 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $103,780 buys what about $101,195 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 2 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$103,780
- Pittsburgh$94,570
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Philadelphia?
$49.89 an hour on average, and $48.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $92,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $78,653 a year ($6,554 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,780. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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