Power Plant Operator salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Power Plant Operators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median of $75,300 a year ($36.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,720 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 14% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $66,080. There are 0.07 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $81,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 25th percentile | $57,980 | $27.87 |
| Median | $75,300 | $36.20 |
| 75th percentile | $115,850 | $55.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,720 | $58.04 |
| Average (mean) | $81,420 | $39.15 |
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 | $6,275 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,137.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,896.15 |
| Weekly | $1,448.08 |
| Hourly | $36.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $99,000 | 470 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $94,390 | 220 |
| Madison, WI | $73,300 | 100 |
| Green Bay, WI | $66,080 | 40 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $69,600 | $33.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,770 | $22.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,660 | $36.37 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Machinist | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,390 | $28.55 |
| Printing Press Operator | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,390 | $20.86 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,980 | $22.11 |
| Food Batchmaker | $43,410 | $20.87 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,650 | $23.39 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $75,300 a year, or $36.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn at least $120,720 a year. The top 25% earn $115,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,420 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $57,980 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About 50 power plant operators are employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.