Power Plant Operators Salary in Rochester, NY
The median pay for a power plant operators in Rochester, NY is $78,290/year ($37.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.03), that's roughly $80,686 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K get you in Rochester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rochester’s Regional Price Parity (97.03). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About power plant operators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rochester, NY
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124K | +24% | 570 |
| New York | $122K | +22% | 2,350 |
| Hawaii | $115K | +16% | 430 |
| Oregon | $115K | +15% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $110K | +10% | 210 |
| North Dakota | $109K | +10% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $107K | +8% | 550 |
| Arizona | $107K | +8% | 890 |
| Nevada | $107K | +7% | 390 |
| Maryland | $106K | +7% | 310 |
| California | $106K | +6% | 2,390 |
| South Dakota | $105K | +6% | 40 |
| Wyoming | $105K | +6% | 210 |
| Michigan | $104K | +4% | 1,200 |
| Utah | $104K | +4% | 340 |
| Alabama | $104K | +4% | 730 |
| Georgia | $104K | +4% | 420 |
| Texas | $103K | +3% | 1,880 |
| Illinois | $103K | +3% | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $103K | +3% | 280 |
| Indiana | $103K | +3% | 900 |
| Montana | $103K | +3% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $102K | +2% | 1,060 |
| Delaware | $102K | +2% | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +1% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $99K | -0% | 500 |
| Iowa | $99K | -1% | 380 |
| Nebraska | $99K | -1% | 240 |
| New Mexico | $99K | -1% | 130 |
| Vermont | $98K | -1% | 130 |
| Ohio | $98K | -2% | 630 |
| West Virginia | $96K | -3% | 300 |
| Mississippi | $95K | -5% | 450 |
| Louisiana | $95K | -5% | 570 |
| Connecticut | $92K | -7% | 220 |
| Kansas | $90K | -10% | 500 |
| Arkansas | $89K | -11% | 240 |
| Minnesota | $88K | -12% | 710 |
| Kentucky | $87K | -12% | 550 |
| Missouri | $86K | -13% | 760 |
| Pennsylvania | $85K | -14% | 1,380 |
| Alaska | $85K | -15% | 750 |
| Florida | $84K | -16% | 1,330 |
| Wisconsin | $81K | -18% | 660 |
| Oklahoma | $81K | -19% | 600 |
| South Carolina | $79K | -21% | 850 |
| Virginia | $78K | -21% | 730 |
| Maine | $78K | -22% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -27% | 150 |
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 Rochester numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do power plant operators make in Rochester, NY?
The median is $78,290 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,390, and experienced power plant operators can clear $107,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Rochester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,980/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 31.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a power plant operators salary go in Rochester?
Rochester has a Regional Price Parity of 97.03 (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 $80,686 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.