The median annual wage for Power Plant Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $103,380 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $103,680.
Pay spans roughly $82,800 at the 10th percentile to $123,390 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $49.70 per hour. An estimated 600 people work as power plant operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $103,380 |
| Mean (annual) | $103,680 |
| Median (hourly) | $49.70 |
| 10th percentile | $82,800 |
| 90th percentile | $123,390 |
| Employment | 600 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.