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Power Plant Operators Salary in Pennsylvania

The median pay for a power plant operators in Pennsylvania is $85,260/year ($40.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$85K
Median annual
$40.99/hr
Hourly rate
$56K
Entry level (10th %)
$116K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $85K get you in Pennsylvania?

Estimated monthly take-home$5,479/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,351/mo
Rent as % of take-home24.7% (within guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$89,776/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$4,128/mo

About power plant operators

U.S. employed: 1,380
Category: Production & Manufacturing

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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania

Bar chart showing Power Plant Operators salary percentiles in Pennsylvania: 10th percentile $56,270, 25th percentile $77,700, median $85,260, 75th percentile $99,850, 90th percentile $115,550. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$56K25th$78KMedian$85K75th$100K90th$116K
Bar chart showing Power Plant Operators salary percentiles in Pennsylvania: 10th percentile $56,270, 25th percentile $77,700, median $85,260, 75th percentile $99,850, 90th percentile $115,550. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.

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Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Pennsylvania

3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington$98K+15%390
Pittsburgh$83K-2%150
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre$82K-4%60

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Track power plant operators salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do power plant operators make in Pennsylvania?

The median is $85,260 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,270, and experienced power plant operators can clear $115,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $85K enough to live in Pennsylvania?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,479/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania 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 $89,776 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.

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