51
Power Plant Operators is a notable career in the 51 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Power Plant Operators against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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13
| soc | 51-8013 |
| title | Power Plant Operators |
| onet code | 51-8013.00 |
| description | Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 51 |
| tot emp | 30,720 |
| a mean | 95,990 |
| a median | 99,670 |
| a pct10 | 59,930 |
| a pct25 | 77,400 |
| a pct75 | 111,980 |
| a pct90 | 128,760 |
| h mean | 46 |
| h median | 47 |
The day-to-day work of a power plant operators typically centers on control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.41 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working power plant operators, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (59.8%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 13% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Washington at $124,050 and lowest in New Hampshire at $72,370 — a 1.7× spread. The top five states (Washington, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, New Jersey) average $117,094. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124,050 | $119,570 | $81,220 | $157,150 | 570 |
| New York | $121,760 | $112,300 | $62,890 | $141,570 | 2,350 |
| Hawaii | $115,190 | $110,470 | $83,920 | $128,120 | 430 |
| Oregon | $114,500 | $110,550 | $73,460 | $140,660 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $109,970 | $106,940 | $80,970 | $123,670 | 210 |
| North Dakota | $109,340 | $103,490 | $74,990 | $134,260 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $107,380 | $99,520 | $65,930 | $117,120 | 550 |
| Arizona | $107,210 | $98,940 | $63,750 | $112,100 | 890 |
| Nevada | $106,990 | $106,590 | $67,050 | $136,400 | 390 |
| Maryland | $106,300 | $101,670 | $80,470 | $118,310 | 310 |
| California | $105,520 | $110,380 | $61,320 | $168,180 | 2,390 |
| South Dakota | $105,400 | $98,530 | $65,470 | $130,110 | 40 |
| Wyoming | $105,330 | $104,300 | $86,660 | $123,200 | 210 |
| Michigan | $103,880 | $97,930 | $63,870 | $120,000 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $103,760 | $94,260 | $68,320 | $112,680 | 340 |
| Alabama | $103,640 | $97,030 | $61,320 | $123,480 | 730 |
| Georgia | $103,590 | $91,820 | $52,440 | $123,960 | 420 |
| Texas | $103,120 | $91,770 | $49,710 | $125,550 | 1,880 |
| Illinois | $103,020 | $97,440 | $75,920 | $108,810 | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $102,750 | $103,470 | $65,480 | $134,390 | 280 |
| Indiana | $102,730 | $95,740 | $70,160 | $121,980 | 900 |
| Montana | $102,610 | $96,350 | $54,410 | $115,830 | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $102,080 | $97,430 | $64,750 | $126,750 | 1,060 |
| Delaware | $101,790 | $104,450 | $82,970 | $120,150 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $100,840 | $99,260 | $61,760 | $132,310 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $99,290 | $98,000 | $59,220 | $127,900 | 500 |
| Iowa | $98,880 | $88,970 | $60,700 | $106,250 | 380 |
| Nebraska | $98,760 | $98,690 | $57,930 | $138,080 | 240 |
| New Mexico | $98,690 | $85,230 | $41,930 | $105,410 | 130 |
| Colorado | $98,570 | $99,510 | $77,690 | $130,080 | 380 |
| Vermont | $98,260 | $93,810 | $47,480 | $129,180 | 130 |
| Ohio | $97,810 | $92,090 | $65,250 | $107,270 | 630 |
| West Virginia | $96,230 | $92,420 | $70,620 | $109,270 | 300 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 | $90,800 | $63,710 | $117,120 | 450 |
| Louisiana | $94,500 | $89,230 | $47,850 | $114,270 | 570 |
| Connecticut | $92,310 | $96,080 | $67,430 | $125,860 | 220 |
| Kansas | $89,630 | $84,650 | $36,490 | $127,100 | 500 |
| Arkansas | $88,860 | $85,580 | $58,780 | $106,610 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $88,090 | $88,000 | $64,040 | $117,720 | 710 |
| Kentucky | $87,330 | $84,620 | $49,180 | $108,040 | 550 |
| Missouri | $86,240 | $87,020 | $56,840 | $120,100 | 760 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,260 | $87,100 | $56,270 | $115,550 | 1,380 |
| Alaska | $85,070 | $88,180 | $42,140 | $143,890 | 750 |
| Florida | $84,030 | $89,110 | $56,060 | $129,140 | 1,330 |
| Wisconsin | $81,250 | $86,680 | $56,790 | $120,040 | 660 |
| Oklahoma | $80,780 | $79,090 | $46,220 | $104,160 | 600 |
| South Carolina | $78,580 | $81,550 | $61,380 | $99,750 | 850 |
| Virginia | $78,460 | $79,000 | $52,200 | $105,420 | 730 |
| Maine | $78,080 | $79,540 | $60,610 | $102,190 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $72,370 | $76,550 | $51,180 | $108,980 | 150 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for power plant operators. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Asphalt Plant Operator or Auxiliary Equipment Tender frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Power Plant Operators compares to others in the 51 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Power Plant Operators
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.