Power Plant Operator salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Power Plant Operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $132,600 a year ($63.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,800 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 26% higher than the California statewide median of $105,210. There are 0.13 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $130,890, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,470 | $37.25 |
| 25th percentile | $104,720 | $50.35 |
| Median | $132,600 | $63.75 |
| 75th percentile | $171,800 | $82.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,800 | $82.60 |
| Average (mean) | $130,890 | $62.93 |
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 | $11,050 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,525 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,100 |
| Weekly | $2,550 |
| Hourly | $63.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $132,600 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $125,160 | $60.17 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $129,930 | $62.46 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $117,660 | $56.57 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $111,900 | $53.80 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $91,310 | $43.90 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $60,250 | $28.97 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $62,340 | $29.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $91,500 | $43.99 |
| Baker | $46,600 | $22.41 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $56,400 | $27.11 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,310 | $22.26 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $46,490 | $22.35 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $46,710 | $22.46 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $43,310 | $20.82 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for power plant operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $132,600 a year, or $63.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $171,800 a year. The top 25% earn $171,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,470 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $104,720 or less.
How many power plant operators work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 300 power plant operators are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.