Power Plant Operators · Illinois

Power Plant Operators Salary in Illinois

Power Plant Operators in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $104,440 —2.4% above the national median of $102,040. That ranks IL #20 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$104,440
Median hourly
$50.21
Entry level (P10)
$77,330
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$128,040
90th percentile
Employment
1,160
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+2.4%
U.S. $102,040

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$77,330
$93,150
$104,440
$120,390
$77,330$104,440$128,040
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $104,440.

Employment concentration (1.01×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for power plant operators

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$131,620$63.284300.65
2Nevada$131,400$63.172500.86
3New Jersey$131,370$63.163000.37
4Idaho$124,440$59.833101.90
5North Dakota$122,160$58.731501.89
6Hawaii$121,700$58.512902.43
7Tennessee$115,920$55.734900.80
8Maryland$111,260$53.493300.64
9Oregon$109,830$52.802500.66
10North Carolina$108,300$52.074200.45

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do power plant operators make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for power plant operators in Illinois is $104,440, or $50.21 per hour. That is 2.4% above the national median of $102,040.

What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $77,330 per year ($37.18/hour). The 25th percentile is $93,150.

How many people work as power plant operators in Illinois?

About 1,160 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for power plant operators?

Illinois ranks #20 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.01x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays power plant operators the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $131,620 per year, followed by Nevada ($131,400) and New Jersey ($131,370).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes