Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Virginia is $73,640/year ($35.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $77,688 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Virginia?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for power plant operators in Virginia runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $67K | -10% | 110 |
| Richmond | $64K | -14% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,831/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $74K here vs. $102K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Virginia pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — below the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Virginia?
The median is $73,640 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,190, and experienced power plant operators can clear $102,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,706/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 35% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $77,688 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.