Power Plant Operator salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Power Plant Operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $92,320 a year ($44.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,250 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 25% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $73,640. There are 0.08 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $91,270, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| 25th percentile | $79,210 | $38.08 |
| Median | $92,320 | $44.39 |
| 75th percentile | $102,180 | $49.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,250 | $63.10 |
| Average (mean) | $91,270 | $43.88 |
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 | $7,693.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,846.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,550.77 |
| Weekly | $1,775.38 |
| Hourly | $44.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $92,320 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $111,260 | 230 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,350 | 310 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $100,300 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,500 | 110 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,640 | 60 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $73,600 | $35.38 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $91,480 | $43.98 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $83,760 | $40.27 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $99,880 | $48.02 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $66,640 | $32.04 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $99,610 | $47.89 |
| Baker | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $60,670 | $29.17 |
| Printing Press Operator | $49,490 | $23.79 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,160 | $21.23 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $92,320 a year, or $44.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $131,250 a year. The top 25% earn $102,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,260 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $79,210 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 240 power plant operators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.