Power Plant Operator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Power Plant Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $123,540 a year ($59.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $88,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,690 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 18% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $104,440. There are 0.14 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $116,150, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,910 | $42.75 |
| 25th percentile | $107,600 | $51.73 |
| Median | $123,540 | $59.40 |
| 75th percentile | $127,890 | $61.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,690 | $61.87 |
| Average (mean) | $116,150 | $55.84 |
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 | $10,295 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,147.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,751.54 |
| Weekly | $2,375.77 |
| Hourly | $59.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $123,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $109,820 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $109,090 | 100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $104,120 | 120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $103,030 | 80 |
| Springfield, IL | $102,130 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $101,820 | n/a |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $79,290 | $38.12 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $115,780 | $55.66 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $102,810 | $49.43 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $80,660 | $38.78 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $123,540 a year, or $59.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $88,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $128,690 a year. The top 25% earn $127,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $88,910 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $107,600 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 640 power plant operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.