Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA is $97,640/year ($46.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.35), that's roughly $97,299 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,131/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $98K get you in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Spokane-Spokane Valley’s Regional Price Parity (100.35). 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley
Power plant operators pay in Spokane-Spokane Valley tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,131/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.35) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for power plant operators in metros near Spokane-Spokane Valley, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso | $95K | $97K |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $125K | $112K |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $146K | $140K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $137K | $130K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $61K 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,131/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,031/month. At HUD’s $1,131/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Spokane-Spokane Valley compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Spokane-Spokane Valley pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.35), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — below the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA?
The median is $97,640 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,850, and experienced power plant operators can clear $144,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Spokane-Spokane Valley?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,423/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,131/month, which eats 17.6% 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley?
Spokane-Spokane Valley has a Regional Price Parity of 100.35 (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 $97,299 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.