Power Plant Operators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,250 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Washington earn between $79,210 and $102,180.
- $59K10th
- $79K25th
- $92KMedian
- $102K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,270 | $7,606 | $43.88 |
| Median | $92,320 | $7,693 | $44.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,210 | $6,601 | $38.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,180 | $8,515 | $49.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Washington earn 9% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $91,270 | $92,320 | $59,260 | $131,250 | 240 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $91,270, a single filer in Washington takes home about $68,249 a year, or $5,687 a month and $2,625 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $69,747 | $5,812 |
| Working in MD | $68,915 | $5,743 |
| Working in VA | $68,605 | $5,717 |
| Working in DC | $68,249 | $5,687 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $91,270 buys what about $83,823 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$109,540
- Richmond, VA$67,130
- Philadelphia, PA$103,780
- Virginia Beach, VA$64,660
- Pittsburgh, PA$94,570
- New York, NY$123,810
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 Washington: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Washington?
$43.88 an hour on average, and $44.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Washington?
About $68,249 a year ($5,687 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,270.
Do power plant operators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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