Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area is $96,300/year ($46.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers.
So what does $96K get you in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $73K 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 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,283/month.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -6%.
How much do power plant operators make in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $96,300 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,380, and experienced power plant operators can clear $143,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 20% 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 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area?
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 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 $96,300 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.