Power Plant Operators pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $182,420 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Seattle earn between $102,040 and $171,350.
- $80K10th
- $102K25th
- $125KMedian
- $171K75th
- $182K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,410 | $11,034 | $63.66 |
| Median | $124,950 | $10,412 | $60.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,040 | $8,503 | $49.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,350 | $14,279 | $82.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Seattle earn 3% more than the Washington average ($128,230) and 33% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $132,410 | $124,950 | $80,270 | $182,420 | 90 |
| Washington | $128,230 | $131,620 | $85,390 | $168,610 | 430 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $132,410, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $101,768 a year, or $8,481 a month and $3,914 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $132,410 buys what about $119,146 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 2nd of 4 Washington metro areas for this job; Wenatchee pays the most ($150,930).
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 Seattle: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Seattle?
$63.66 an hour on average, and $60.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Seattle?
About $101,768 a year ($8,481 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,410. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.24, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.24).
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