How much does a power plant operator make in Chicago?
$123,500a year
Median yearly pay for power plant operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $59.39 an hour or $10,300 a month.
- Hourly
- $59.39
- Vs. national median
- +21%
- Rank among cities
- 14 of 113
- Jobs in the area
- 640
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $88,910Median: $123,500Highest 10%: $128,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $88,910 | $42.75 | |
| 25th | $107,600 | $51.73 | |
| Median | $123,500 | $59.39 | |
| 75th | $127,900 | $61.49 | |
| 90th | $128,700 | $61.87 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for power plant operators.
| St. Louis, MO | $101,800 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Chicago, ILFrequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $59.39 ($123,500 a year).
Do power plant operators make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $123,500 against $102,000 nationally, 21% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $104,400, so Chicago pays 18% more.
Where does Chicago rank for power plant operator pay?
14 of 113 metro areas with data.
How much does a power plant operator make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $88,910 or less a year; the top 10% make $128,700 or more.
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.