Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $102,780/year ($49.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers.
So what does $103K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About power plant operators
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for power plant operators in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $68K | , |
| Tulsa | $101K | , |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $126K | , |
| Oklahoma City | $101K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Power Plant Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $132K | +29% | 430 |
| Nevada | $131K | +29% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $131K | +29% | 300 |
| Idaho | $124K | +22% | 310 |
| North Dakota | $122K | +20% | 150 |
| Hawaii | $122K | +19% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $116K | +14% | 490 |
| Maryland | $111K | +9% | 330 |
| Oregon | $110K | +8% | 250 |
| North Carolina | $108K | +6% | 420 |
| Georgia | $108K | +5% | 590 |
| Utah | $107K | +5% | 420 |
| Alabama | $107K | +5% | 790 |
| Indiana | $107K | +5% | 1,190 |
| New York | $107K | +5% | 1,960 |
| Montana | $106K | +4% | 130 |
| Michigan | $106K | +4% | 1,220 |
| New Mexico | $106K | +3% | 130 |
| California | $105K | +3% | 2,610 |
| Illinois | $104K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $104K | +2% | 730 |
| Delaware | $103K | +1% | 80 |
| Colorado | $103K | +1% | 250 |
| Texas | $103K | +0% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $102K | +0% | 450 |
| Missouri | $102K | -0% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $101K | -1% | 370 |
| Iowa | $101K | -2% | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $100K | -2% | 880 |
| Wyoming | $99K | -3% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $98K | -4% | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $98K | -4% | 50 |
| Arkansas | $98K | -4% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $97K | -4% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $97K | -5% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $96K | -6% | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $94K | -7% | 970 |
| Florida | $94K | -8% | 1,640 |
| Kentucky | $93K | -8% | 690 |
| Alaska | $89K | -13% | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $89K | -13% | 520 |
| Arizona | $85K | -17% | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $81K | -21% | 90 |
| Maine | $81K | -21% | 190 |
| Kansas | $80K | -22% | 520 |
| South Carolina | $80K | -22% | 680 |
| Vermont | $78K | -23% | 140 |
| Virginia | $74K | -28% | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -35% | 420 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,816/month.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +1%.
How much do power plant operators make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $102,780 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,270, and experienced power plant operators can clear $137,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,348/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a power plant operators salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median power plant operators salary is worth about $102,780 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.