Power Plant Operators Salary in Riverside, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Median annual salary $94,720 -5% vs national
Median hourly $45.54
10th percentile $59,430
90th percentile $134,710
Employed locally 240
National median $99,670

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Power Plant Operators
in
Riverside, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,430
    25th
    $63,810
    50th (median)
    $94,720
    75th
    $101,580
    90th
    $134,710

    Riverside economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,031 2023 • Census ACS
    Power Plant Operators salary vs area income 110% Median Power Plant Operators salary is 10% 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 Riverside, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,720
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46,240
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$67,290
    Production Workers, All Other$37,520
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,620
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,180

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in Riverside, CA is $45.54, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $59.89 or more per hour.

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

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in Riverside, CA is 5% 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 Riverside?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $59,430 per year in Riverside, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $63,810.