Power Plant Operators Salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Median annual salary $67,210 -32.6% vs national
Median hourly $32.31
10th percentile $52,080
90th percentile $79,210
Employed locally 130
National median $99,670

Compare Power Plant Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Virginia Beach, VA-NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Power Plant Operators
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Virginia Beach, VA-NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $52,080
    25th
    $64,160
    50th (median)
    $67,210
    75th
    $79,200
    90th
    $79,210

    Virginia Beach economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,533 2023 • Census ACS
    Power Plant Operators salary vs area income 83% Median Power Plant Operators salary is 17% 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
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $136,300
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $108,460
    Nevada $106,990
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $105,870
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $105,520
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $92,530

    Related occupations in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $60,700
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,570
    Machinists $60,920
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $77,310
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $56,100
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $59,020

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Power Plant Operators make per hour in Virginia Beach?

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is $32.31, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.74 or more per hour.

    Is Virginia Beach above or below average for Power Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is 32.6% 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 Virginia Beach?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $52,080 per year in Virginia Beach, VA-NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $64,160.