Power Plant Operators Salary in El Centro, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • El Centro, CA

Median annual salary $67,640 -32.1% vs national
Median hourly $32.52
10th percentile $55,010
90th percentile $128,410
Employed locally 80
National median $99,670

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Power Plant Operators
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El Centro, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $55,010
    25th
    $60,640
    50th (median)
    $67,640
    75th
    $93,190
    90th
    $128,410

    El Centro economic context

    Unemployment rate 18.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,393 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
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $156,260
    Fresno, CA $136,640
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $118,520
    Decatur, AL $108,040
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $107,650
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $106,030

    Related occupations in El Centro, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $34,940
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $83,270
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $45,430
    Butchers and Meat Cutters $47,240
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $75,790
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $56,660

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Power Plant Operators make per hour in El Centro?

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in El Centro, CA is $32.52, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $61.74 or more per hour.

    Is El Centro above or below average for Power Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in El Centro, CA is 32.1% below 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 El Centro?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $55,010 per year in El Centro, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,640.