Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Idaho is $124,440/year ($59.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $132,552 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 15% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $124K get you in Idaho?
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What this looks like in Idaho
Idaho sits well above the national pay line for power plant operators, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 15.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Idaho offers a genuinely strong financial position for power plant operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $134K | +8% | 70 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 15.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,138/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $124K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Idaho pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Idaho?
The median is $124,440 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,960, and experienced power plant operators can clear $137,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,471/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 15.2% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $132,552 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.