How much does a plant and system operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $30.03 an hour or $5,206 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.03
- Average (mean)
- $65,700
- Jobs
- 14,080
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,700 | $19.57 | |
| 25th | $48,900 | $23.51 | |
| Median | $62,470 | $30.03 | |
| 75th | $78,480 | $37.73 | |
| 90th | $94,560 | $45.46 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Massachusetts | $120,700 |
| Washington | $88,730 |
| Minnesota | $88,290 |
| Maryland | $81,890 |
| Montana | $81,340 |
| Nevada | $80,000 |
| California | $78,020 |
| Illinois | $77,780 |
| Iowa | $75,800 |
| New York | $74,700 |
| Oklahoma | $74,240 |
| Kansas | $74,190 |
| Oregon | $71,900 |
| West Virginia | $70,660 |
| Indiana | $70,490 |
| New Jersey | $69,970 |
| Kentucky | $69,430 |
| Arizona | $69,260 |
| Connecticut | $68,950 |
| Utah | $67,910 |
| Wyoming | $66,770 |
| Mississippi | $65,080 |
| Michigan | $64,690 |
| Ohio | $64,140 |
| New Hampshire | $64,030 |
| Wisconsin | $62,800 |
| Louisiana | $62,630 |
| Maine | $62,270 |
| Virginia | $61,940 |
| Idaho | $61,690 |
| North Carolina | $61,190 |
| Tennessee | $60,240 |
| South Dakota | $57,430 |
| South Carolina | $56,060 |
| New Mexico | $55,710 |
| Alabama | $51,690 |
| Colorado | $51,600 |
| Missouri | $51,560 |
| Florida | $50,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,840 |
| Texas | $50,820 |
| Nebraska | $48,220 |
| Arkansas | $46,020 |
| Georgia | $44,670 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Sacramento, CA | $94,420 |
| Reno, NV | $92,870 |
| San Francisco, CA | $91,310 |
| Duluth, MN | $88,290 |
| San Jose, CA | $85,590 |
| Seattle, WA | $85,300 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $84,390 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $83,870 |
| Washington, DC | $83,760 |
| Billings, MT | $83,530 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $81,660 |
| Chicago, IL | $80,660 |
| Riverside, CA | $80,430 |
| New York, NY | $78,500 |
| Baltimore, MD | $78,350 |
In other countries
Plant and System Operator belongs to the international group "Incinerator and water treatment plant operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator$122,900
- Power Distributor and Dispatcher$106,700
- Power Plant Operator$102,000
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$78,620
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$60,020
- Chemical Plant and System Operator$78,120
- Gas Plant Operator$87,820
- Petroleum Pump System Operator$96,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a plant and system operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $30.03 ($62,470 a year).
How much does a plant and system operator make a month?
About $5,206 a month before tax, based on a median of $62,470 a year.
How much does a plant and system operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,700 or less a year ($19.57 an hour); the top 10% make $94,560 or more.
Which state pays plant and system operators the most?
Massachusetts, with a median of $120,700 a year, followed by Washington ($88,730) and Minnesota ($88,290).
Which city pays plant and system operators the most?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, with a median of $94,420 a year.
How many plant and system operators are there in the United States?
About 14,080 people work as plant and system operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.