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Power Plant Operators Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 2,610 Power Plant Operators professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
2,610
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
2.61
workers
Location Quotient
4.39
vs national avg
Average Salary
$110K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 4.39 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Power Plant Operators professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
2,610
National: 28,530
9.1% of national
Jobs per 1,000
2.61
National: 0.59
+342.4%
Average Salary
$110K
National: $99K
+11.4%

Top States by Power Plant Operators Employment

#1
2,610
2,610
employed
#2
2,100
2,100
employed
#3
1,960
1,960
employed
#4
1,640
1,640
employed
#5
1,220
1,220
employed
#6
1,190
1,190
employed
#7
1,160
1,160
employed
#8
1,010
1,010
employed
#9
970
970
employed
#10
880
880
employed

What Does a Power Plant Operators Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Power Plant Operators in California is $110,960. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Power Plant Operators jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 2,610 Power Plant Operators professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Power Plant Operators in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Power Plant Operators jobs (LQ: 4.39). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Power Plant Operators in California?

The average (mean) salary for Power Plant Operators in California is $110960/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Power Plant Operators professionals?

The top state for Power Plant Operators employment is California with 2,610 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

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Power Plant Operators Employment in Other States

Compare Power Plant Operators labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Power Plant Operators & California Resources

Drill deeper into Power Plant Operators pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Power Plant Operators (SOC 518013) in California.

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