Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT is $126,190/year ($60.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.87), that's roughly $125,102 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,241/month, or 16.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $126K get you in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salt Lake City-Murray’s Regional Price Parity (100.87). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Salt Lake City-Murray
Salt Lake City-Murray sits well above the national pay line for power plant operators, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,241/month, 16.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.87) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Salt Lake City-Murray offers a genuinely strong financial position for power plant operatorss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for power plant operators in metros near Salt Lake City-Murray, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $118K | $120K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $68K | $65K |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $133K | $133K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $103K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $35K 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 with published data
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 Salt Lake City-Murray numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 16.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,241/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,043/month. At HUD’s $1,241/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $126K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Salt Lake City-Murray compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Salt Lake City-Murray pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median is $126,190 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $100,710, and experienced power plant operators can clear $135,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in Salt Lake City-Murray?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,241/month, which eats 16.3% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Salt Lake City-Murray has a Regional Price Parity of 100.87 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median power plant operators salary is worth about $125,102 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.