Power Plant Operator salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Power Plant Operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $99,470 a year ($47.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,260 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 5% lower than the California statewide median of $105,210. There are 0.06 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $95,380, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| 25th percentile | $79,090 | $38.02 |
| Median | $99,470 | $47.82 |
| 75th percentile | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,260 | $60.22 |
| Average (mean) | $95,380 | $45.86 |
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 | $8,289.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,144.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,825.77 |
| Weekly | $1,912.88 |
| Hourly | $47.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $99,470 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98,950 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,060 | 270 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $94,760 | 200 |
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $79,630 | $38.29 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $77,080 | $37.06 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $77,330 | $37.18 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $98,900 | $47.55 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $72,930 | $35.06 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $173,120 | $83.23 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,350 | $22.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,850 | $23.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,350 | $38.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,560 | $30.08 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $38,910 | $18.71 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for power plant operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $99,470 a year, or $47.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $125,260 a year. The top 25% earn $102,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,470 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $79,090 or less.
How many power plant operators work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 90 power plant operators are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.