Power Plant Operator salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Power Plant Operators in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median of $94,760 a year ($45.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,690 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 10% lower than the California statewide median of $105,210. There are 0.60 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,140 | $29.39 |
| 25th percentile | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Median | $94,760 | $45.56 |
| 75th percentile | $110,560 | $53.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,690 | $62.83 |
| Average (mean) | $96,390 | $46.34 |
Half of power plant operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,896.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,948.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,644.62 |
| Weekly | $1,822.31 |
| Hourly | $45.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $94,760 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Power Plant Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $138,930 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $133,380 | 210 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,600 | 300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,870 | 540 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,940 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,470 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98,950 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,060 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for power plant operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $131,620 |
| Nevada | $131,400 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 |
| Idaho | $124,440 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 |
| Maryland | $111,260 |
| Oregon | $109,830 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 |
See Power Plant Operator pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $64,640 | $31.08 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $97,530 | $46.89 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $94,100 | $45.24 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $81,660 | $39.26 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,310 | $20.82 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,710 | $22.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,940 | $36.99 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,360 | $27.58 |
| Baker | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $42,400 | $20.38 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,590 | $17.59 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $94,760 a year, or $45.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn at least $130,690 a year. The top 25% earn $110,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,140 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $79,540 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
About 200 power plant operators are employed in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.