Power Plant Operators pay range in Duluth
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,870 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Duluth earn between $83,860 and $94,390.
- $74K10th
- $84K25th
- $94KMedian
- $94K75th
- $117K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,210 | $7,601 | $43.85 |
| Median | $94,390 | $7,866 | $45.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,860 | $6,988 | $40.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,390 | $7,866 | $45.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Duluth vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Duluth earn 5% less than the Minnesota average ($95,700) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $91,210 | $94,390 | $74,190 | $116,870 | 220 |
| Minnesota | $95,700 | $94,390 | $72,540 | $125,900 | 970 |
| United States | $99,790 | $102,040 | $61,790 | $131,940 | 29,320 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Power Plant Operators salary after taxes in Duluth
On the average salary of $91,210, a single filer in Duluth takes home about $68,317 a year, or $5,693 a month and $2,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Duluth, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $69,090 | $5,758 |
| Working in MN | $68,317 | $5,693 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Duluth a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Duluth area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $91,210 buys what about $102,751 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Duluth ($50,000). A typical home costs $264,350, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Minnesota cities
Duluth ranks 2nd of 2 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($100,020).
- Minneapolis$100,020
- Duluth$91,210
Highest-paying cities for power plant operators
Wenatchee, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,930).
- Wenatchee, WA$150,930
- Sacramento, CA$135,310
- Seattle, WA$132,410
- Fresno, CA$131,280
- San Francisco, CA$130,890
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Power Plant Operators salary in Duluth: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Duluth?
$43.85 an hour on average, and $45.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Duluth?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Duluth?
About $68,317 a year ($5,693 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,210. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Duluth than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($99,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8013; area Duluth, MN-WI (20260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 9.35, this job is 9.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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