Power Plant Operators pay in California
$110,960avg. a year
$53.35 an hour · 2,610 employed
Power Plant Operators in California earn an average of $110,960 a year. That is $11,170 (11%) more than the U.S. average of $99,790. The best-paying metro area is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $135,310.
$105,210Median pay
$53.35Average hourly
+16%Avg. pay since 2020
#8Of 49 states
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for power plant operators by metro area. Swipe to see all 9.
1210 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$135,310
$65.05 an hour
2130 jobs
Fresno, CA
$131,280
$63.12 an hour
3300 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$130,890
$62.93 an hour
430 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$113,020
$54.34 an hour
5540 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$105,840
$50.88 an hour
650 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$104,340
$50.16 an hour
7200 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$96,390
$46.34 an hour
890 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$95,380
$45.86 an hour
9270 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$94,120
$45.25 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Power Plant Operators pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California power plant operators work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $93k$93k–$99k$99k–$108k$108k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $99,790 | $47.97 |
| California | $110,960 | $53.35 |
| Nevada | $115,780 | $55.66 |
| Oregon | $113,120 | $54.38 |
| Arizona | $89,350 | $42.96 |
Related jobs in California
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$87,190
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$104,560
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$91,010
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$51,060
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$82,000
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$59,540
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do power plant operators make in California?
The average is $110,960 a year, and the median is $105,210. That is $11,170 (11%) more than the U.S. average of $99,790.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$53.35 an hour on average; the median is $50.58.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ($135,310), followed by Fresno, CA ($131,280). The lowest average among 9 metro areas with data is Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($94,120).
How does California rank?
California ranks #8 of 49 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 51-8013. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national power plant operators page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.