Power Plant Operator salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Power Plant Operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $99,000 a year ($47.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,000 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 5% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $94,390. There are 0.24 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $100,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,420 | $35.78 |
| 25th percentile | $79,650 | $38.29 |
| Median | $99,000 | $47.60 |
| 75th percentile | $117,560 | $56.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,000 | $60.58 |
| Average (mean) | $100,020 | $48.09 |
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 | $8,250 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,125 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,807.69 |
| Weekly | $1,903.85 |
| Hourly | $47.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $99,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $94,390 | 220 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $75,300 | 50 |
| 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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $101,910 | $49.00 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $100,500 | $48.32 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $84,390 | $40.57 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $103,670 | $49.84 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $69,710 | $33.51 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| Machinist | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,820 | $38.38 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,710 | $23.42 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $99,000 a year, or $47.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $126,000 a year. The top 25% earn $117,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,420 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $79,650 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 470 power plant operators are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.