How much does a power plant operator make in Des Moines?
$100,700a year
Median yearly pay for power plant operators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $48.41 an hour or $8,392 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.41
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 62 of 113
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $61,210Median: $100,700Highest 10%: $128,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,210 | $29.43 | |
| 25th | $77,370 | $37.20 | |
| Median | $100,700 | $48.41 | |
| 75th | $100,800 | $48.47 | |
| 90th | $128,400 | $61.75 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for power plant operators.
| Omaha, NE | $106,500 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Des Moines, IAFrequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $48.41 ($100,700 a year).
Do power plant operators make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $100,700 against $102,000 nationally, 1% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $100,500, so Des Moines pays 0% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for power plant operator pay?
62 of 113 metro areas with data.
How much does a power plant operator make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,210 or less a year; the top 10% make $128,400 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.