Best states for a power plant operator

Q: What is the best state for power plant operators?

The best state to be a power plant operator is Wyoming based on power plant operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for power plant operators?

The highest paying state for power plant operators is Florida based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for power plant operators?

The worst state for power plant operators is Florida, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to power plant operator jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. As power plant operators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for power plant operators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a power plant operator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

In order to get you the best states for power plant operators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a power plant operator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for power plant operators in 2026

1. Wyoming
Total power plant operator jobs: 41
Average annual salary: $54,570
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
1.89
Power plant operator jobs in Wyoming
2. Alaska
Total power plant operator jobs: 101
Average annual salary: $61,250
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
3.34
Power plant operator jobs in Alaska
3. Iowa
Total power plant operator jobs: 200
Average annual salary: $52,753
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Power plant operator jobs in Iowa
4. Rhode Island
Total power plant operator jobs: 151
Average annual salary: $52,952
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Location Quotient:
3.43
Power plant operator jobs in Rhode Island
5. Michigan
Total power plant operator jobs: 191
Average annual salary: $56,622
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Power plant operator jobs in Michigan
6. North Dakota
Total power plant operator jobs: 32
Average annual salary: $54,828
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Power plant operator jobs in North Dakota
7. Montana
Total power plant operator jobs: 53
Average annual salary: $54,548
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Power plant operator jobs in Montana
8. Minnesota
Total power plant operator jobs: 167
Average annual salary: $56,465
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Power plant operator jobs in Minnesota
9. Vermont
Total power plant operator jobs: 39
Average annual salary: $53,026
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
1.4
Power plant operator jobs in Vermont
10. New Mexico
Total power plant operator jobs: 57
Average annual salary: $53,971
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Power plant operator jobs in New Mexico

Power plant operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a power plant operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a power plant operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Wyoming	$54,570	$41,000	579,315	41
2	Alaska	$61,250	$53,000	739,795	101
3	Iowa	$52,753	$39,000	3,145,711	200
4	Rhode Island	$52,952	$38,000	1,059,639	151
5	Michigan	$56,622	$41,000	9,962,311	191
6	North Dakota	$54,828	$43,000	755,393	32
7	Montana	$54,548	$42,000	1,050,493	53
8	Minnesota	$56,465	$43,000	5,576,606	167
9	Vermont	$53,026	$39,000	623,657	39
10	New Mexico	$53,971	$39,000	2,088,070	57
11	Massachusetts	$52,926	$38,000	6,859,819	1,185
12	South Dakota	$51,545	$39,000	869,666	58
13	Utah	$52,495	$38,000	3,101,833	111
14	Nevada	$53,307	$38,000	2,998,039	58
15	Wisconsin	$51,342	$38,000	5,795,483	206
16	Ohio	$51,340	$37,000	11,658,609	322
17	Idaho	$51,989	$39,000	1,716,943	57
18	West Virginia	$49,839	$35,000	1,815,857	79
19	Arkansas	$51,102	$38,000	3,004,279	88
20	New Hampshire	$52,848	$38,000	1,342,795	44
21	Delaware	$51,503	$36,000	961,939	46
22	Hawaii	$51,238	$39,000	1,427,538	101
23	Maryland	$50,436	$35,000	6,052,177	920
24	Connecticut	$52,977	$38,000	3,588,184	71
25	Washington	$54,793	$42,000	7,405,743	123
26	California	$55,044	$38,000	39,536,653	714
27	Oregon	$53,898	$40,000	4,142,776	82
28	Colorado	$52,629	$39,000	5,607,154	139
29	District of Columbia	$50,031	$35,000	693,972	122
30	Tennessee	$48,366	$36,000	6,715,984	201
31	Nebraska	$49,315	$37,000	1,920,076	76
32	Kentucky	$47,754	$35,000	4,454,189	129
33	Oklahoma	$49,314	$37,000	3,930,864	93
34	Texas	$51,135	$37,000	28,304,596	410
35	Maine	$49,580	$37,000	1,335,907	41
36	New York	$51,939	$37,000	19,849,399	257
37	New Jersey	$48,484	$34,000	9,005,644	824
38	Pennsylvania	$48,469	$34,000	12,805,537	320
39	Indiana	$45,881	$33,000	6,666,818	257
40	Arizona	$47,407	$34,000	7,016,270	164
41	Mississippi	$43,791	$32,000	2,984,100	107
42	Illinois	$48,132	$35,000	12,802,023	320
43	Kansas	$44,881	$33,000	2,913,123	100
44	Missouri	$47,074	$35,000	6,113,532	128
45	Georgia	$46,765	$34,000	10,429,379	247
46	Louisiana	$43,532	$32,000	4,684,333	105
47	South Carolina	$43,218	$32,000	5,024,369	141
48	Alabama	$40,152	$30,000	4,874,747	147
49	Virginia	$46,454	$33,000	8,470,020	188
50	North Carolina	$40,116	$29,000	10,273,419	232
51	Florida	$39,206	$28,000	20,984,400	288

Highest paying states for power plant operators

Rank	State	Avg. Power Plant Operator Salary
1	Wyoming	$54,570
2	Alaska	$61,250
3	Iowa	$52,753
4	Rhode Island	$52,952
5	Michigan	$56,622
6	North Dakota	$54,828
7	Montana	$54,548
8	Minnesota	$56,465
9	Vermont	$53,026
10	New Mexico	$53,971
11	Massachusetts	$52,926
12	South Dakota	$51,545
13	Utah	$52,495
14	Nevada	$53,307
15	Wisconsin	$51,342
16	Ohio	$51,340
17	Idaho	$51,989
18	West Virginia	$49,839
19	Arkansas	$51,102
20	New Hampshire	$52,848
21	Delaware	$51,503
22	Hawaii	$51,238
23	Maryland	$50,436
24	Connecticut	$52,977
25	Washington	$54,793
26	California	$55,044
27	Oregon	$53,898
28	Colorado	$52,629
29	District of Columbia	$50,031
30	Tennessee	$48,366
31	Nebraska	$49,315
32	Kentucky	$47,754
33	Oklahoma	$49,314
34	Texas	$51,135
35	Maine	$49,580
36	New York	$51,939
37	New Jersey	$48,484
38	Pennsylvania	$48,469
39	Indiana	$45,881
40	Arizona	$47,407
41	Mississippi	$43,791
42	Illinois	$48,132
43	Kansas	$44,881
44	Missouri	$47,074
45	Georgia	$46,765
46	Louisiana	$43,532
47	South Carolina	$43,218
48	Alabama	$40,152
49	Virginia	$46,454
50	North Carolina	$40,116
51	Florida	$39,206

Power plant operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for power plant operators?

What is the highest paying state for power plant operators?

What is the worst state for power plant operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for power plant operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total power plant operator jobs:	41
Average annual salary:	$54,570
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$41,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$71,000
Location Quotient:	1.89

Best states for a power plant operator

10 best states for power plant operators in 2026

1. Wyoming

2. Alaska

3. Iowa

4. Rhode Island

5. Michigan

6. North Dakota

7. Montana

8. Minnesota

9. Vermont

10. New Mexico