The median annual wage for Power Plant Operators in California is $105,520 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $110,380.
Pay spans roughly $61,320 at the 10th percentile to $168,180 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $50.73 per hour. An estimated 2,390 people work as power plant operators in California.
| Median (annual) | $105,520 |
| Mean (annual) | $110,380 |
| Median (hourly) | $50.73 |
| 10th percentile | $61,320 |
| 90th percentile | $168,180 |
| Employment | 2,390 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.