Power Plant Operators pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,040 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Los Angeles earn between $85,620 and $125,730.
- $73K10th
- $86K25th
- $106KMedian
- $126K75th
- $134K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,840 | $8,820 | $50.88 |
| Median | $105,870 | $8,822 | $50.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,620 | $7,135 | $41.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $125,730 | $10,478 | $60.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Los Angeles earn 5% less than the California average ($110,960) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $105,840 | $105,870 | $73,140 | $134,040 | 540 |
| California | $110,960 | $105,210 | $63,510 | $171,800 | 2,610 |
| United States | $99,790 | $102,040 | $61,790 | $131,940 | 29,320 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Power Plant Operators salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $105,840, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $77,537 a year, or $6,461 a month and $2,982 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $105,840 buys what about $93,197 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 5th of 9 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($135,310).
- Sacramento$135,310
- Fresno$131,280
- San Francisco$130,890
- Stockton$113,020
- Los Angeles$105,840
- San Jose$104,340
- Bakersfield$96,390
- San Diego$95,380
- Riverside$94,120
Highest-paying cities for power plant operators
Wenatchee, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,930).
- Wenatchee, WA$150,930
- Sacramento, CA$135,310
- Seattle, WA$132,410
- Fresno, CA$131,280
- San Francisco, CA$130,890
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Power Plant Operators salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Los Angeles?
$50.88 an hour on average, and $50.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $77,537 a year ($6,461 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,840. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($99,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8013; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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