Power Plant Operators Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $100,700 +1% vs national
Median hourly $48.42
10th percentile $61,210
90th percentile $128,430
National median $99,670

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Power Plant Operators
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,210
    25th
    $77,370
    50th (median)
    $100,700
    75th
    $100,820
    90th
    $128,430

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Power Plant Operators salary vs area income 120% Median Power Plant Operators salary is 20% 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
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $111,260
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $108,730
    Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $107,110
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $105,740
    California $105,520
    Omaha, NE-IA $103,810

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $69,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,200
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $50,950
    Butchers and Meat Cutters $36,140
    Bakers $36,460

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Power Plant Operators make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in Des Moines, IA is $48.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $61.75 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Power Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in Des Moines, IA is 1% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $61,210 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $77,370.