Power Plant Operators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $103,380 +3.7% vs national
Median hourly $49.70
10th percentile $82,800
90th percentile $123,390
Employed locally 600
National median $99,670

Compare Power Plant Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Power Plant Operators
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $82,800
    25th
    $101,430
    50th (median)
    $103,380
    75th
    $110,080
    90th
    $123,390

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Power Plant Operators salary vs area income 116% Median Power Plant Operators salary is 16% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Power Plant Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $156,260
    Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $140,800
    Fresno, CA $136,640
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $136,300
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $133,460
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $128,340

    Nearby metros — Power Plant Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $156,260
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $136,300
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $127,190
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $118,490
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $110,190
    Jacksonville, FL $106,740

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,330
    Machinists $57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Power Plant Operators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in Chicago, IL-IN is $49.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $61.87 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Power Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 3.7% above the national median of $99,670. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Power Plant Operators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $82,800 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $101,430.