Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Arizona is $84,970/year ($40.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $88,134 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Arizona?
About power plant operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for power plant operators in Arizona runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,437/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $68K | -20% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 26.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,454/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $85K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Arizona pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Arizona?
The median is $84,970 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,560, and experienced power plant operators can clear $118,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,503/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a power plant operators salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median power plant operators salary is worth about $88,134 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do power plant operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.