Power Plant Operators pay range in Providence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,460 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Providence earn between $76,500 and $115,070.
- $65K10th
- $76K25th
- $97KMedian
- $115K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,680 | $8,057 | $46.48 |
| Median | $97,320 | $8,110 | $46.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,500 | $6,375 | $36.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,070 | $9,589 | $55.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Providence vs. Rhode Island and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Providence earn 5% less than the Rhode Island average ($102,280) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $96,680 | $97,320 | $65,260 | $126,460 | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $102,280 | $98,050 | $69,570 | $134,120 | 50 |
| 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 Providence
On the average salary of $96,680, a single filer in Providence takes home about $73,836 a year, or $6,153 a month and $2,840 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in RI | $73,836 | $6,153 |
| Working in MA | $72,330 | $6,028 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Is Providence a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Providence area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.8), so the average $96,680 buys what about $94,996 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Providence ($53,680). A typical home costs $524,867, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Norwich, CT$89,190
- Worcester, MA$95,390
- Boston, MA$102,800
- Hartford, CT$99,250
- Springfield, MA$93,320
- New Haven, CT$116,270
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 Providence: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Providence?
$46.48 an hour on average, and $46.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Providence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Providence?
About $73,836 a year ($6,153 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,680. Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Providence 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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (39300). 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 (2026 rules). Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance payroll contribution is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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