Power Plant Operators Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $93,670 -6% vs national
Median hourly $45.03
10th percentile $60,840
90th percentile $146,490
Employed locally 110
National median $99,670

Compare Power Plant Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Power Plant Operators
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $60,840
    25th
    $79,930
    50th (median)
    $93,670
    75th
    $128,070
    90th
    $146,490

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Power Plant Operators salary vs area income 92% Median Power Plant Operators salary is 8% below 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 San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,870
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $56,110
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $47,860
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,010
    Production Workers, All Other $39,290
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $40,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Power Plant Operators make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in San Diego, CA is $45.03, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $60.22 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Power Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in San Diego, CA is 6% 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $60,840 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $79,930.