Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in New Jersey is $131,370/year ($63.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $132,243 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $131K get you in New Jersey?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for power plant operators, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) 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, New Jersey
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,011/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $131K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for power plant operators?
New Jersey pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in New Jersey?
The median is $131,370 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,510, and experienced power plant operators can clear $131,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,859/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 26.3% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $132,243 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.