Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Nevada is $131,400/year ($63.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $142K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.79), that's roughly $131,677 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,501/month, or 17.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nevada. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $131K get you in Nevada?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Nevada
Nevada sits well above the national pay line for power plant operators, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,501/month, 17.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.79) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Nevada offers a genuinely strong financial position for power plant operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nevada
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $142K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Nevada
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $133K | +1% | 130 |
| Reno | $129K | -2% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nevada numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nevada?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 17.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Nevada?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,306/month. At HUD’s $1,501/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Nevada?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $131K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Nevada compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Nevada pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Nevada?
The median is $131,400 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,760, and experienced power plant operators can clear $141,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Nevada?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,380/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,501/month, which eats 17.9% 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 Nevada?
Nevada has a Regional Price Parity of 99.79 (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 $131,677 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.