Power Plant Operator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A power plant operator earns a median of $102,040 a year ($49.06 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $99,790. About 29,320 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $102,040
- Gross pay
- $3,924.62
- Federal income tax
- −$523.80
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$243.33
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$56.91
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $3,100.58
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $102,040
- Federal
- $13,619
- FICA
- $7,806
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $80,615
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Power Distributor and Dispatcher: $106,730
- Petroleum Pump System Operator: $96,710
- Gas Plant Operator: $87,820
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator: $122,890
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator: $78,620
- Chemical Plant and System Operator: $78,120
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker: $74,450
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer: $68,120
BLS occupation: Power Plant Operators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 51-8013). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $49.06; the average is $47.97.
What is the salary range for a power plant operator?
The bottom 10% earn under $61,790 and the top 10% earn over $131,940 a year.
How much is $102,040 after taxes?
About $80,615 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $74,044 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.