National Salary Info » Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Highest Paying Industries for Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

The top 65 highest paying industries for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $104,080, pipeline transportation of natural gas is the highest paying industry for power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers. It is followed by pipeline transportation industry (average annual salary $104,080). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 65 Highest Paying Industries for Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	$104,080	$77,360	40
2	Pipeline Transportation	$104,080	$77,360	40
3	Transportation and Warehousing	$98,950	$65,450	60
4	Natural Gas Distribution	$97,250	$64,530	1,210
5	Outpatient Care Centers	$95,860	$60,010	n/a
6	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$83,250	$61,750	710
7	Scientific Research and Development Services	$83,250	$61,750	710
8	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$82,710	$56,020	1,500
9	Federal government, including USPS	$81,730	$64,990	1,780
10	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$81,730	$64,990	1,780
11	Construction	$79,870	$51,550	n/a
12	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	$79,200	$51,390	n/a
13	Utility System Construction	$79,200	$51,390	n/a
14	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$79,200	$51,390	n/a
15	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$78,660	$54,100	970
16	Utilities	$73,670	$50,610	43,120
17	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$73,350	$50,460	41,640
18	Ambulatory Health Care Services	$70,980	$63,140	n/a
19	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$70,580	$40,220	9,440
20	Federal, State, and Local Government	$70,580	$40,220	9,440
21	Waste Treatment and Disposal	$70,180	$50,480	300
22	Waste Management and Remediation Services	$70,170	$50,560	310
23	Temporary Help Services	$69,740	$34,670	150
24	Employment Services	$69,740	$34,670	150
25	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$69,620	$44,690	490
26	Water, Sewage and Other Systems	$69,120	$47,890	270
27	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$68,890	$54,480	50
28	Administrative and Support Services	$68,080	$35,750	180
29	Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills	$68,000	$44,140	370
30	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$67,780	$38,980	10,330
31	Paper Manufacturing	$67,500	$44,380	380
32	Health Care and Social Assistance	$67,300	$41,280	920
33	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$66,010	$40,850	580
34	Hospitals - Privately owned	$66,010	$40,850	580
35	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$65,830	$37,710	6,890
36	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$65,720	$37,590	6,940
37	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$65,540	$39,510	610
38	Mining	$65,040	$34,110	80
39	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$64,300	$38,390	650
40	Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing	$61,430	$42,980	60
41	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$61,230	$42,610	60
42	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$60,400	$38,360	n/a
43	Engineering Services	$60,380	$37,900	n/a
44	Manufacturing	$60,380	$42,320	980
45	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$60,280	$49,820	n/a
46	Chemical Manufacturing	$59,090	$45,710	270
47	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$58,800	$40,210	760
48	Other Food Manufacturing	$58,300	$23,340	40
49	Food Manufacturing	$57,830	$40,590	n/a
50	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$56,440	$34,730	190
51	Educational Services - Privately owned	$56,440	$34,730	190
52	Commercial and Industrial Machinery Equipment (except Auto and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance	$54,150	$47,530	n/a
53	Repair and Maintenance	$54,150	$47,530	n/a
54	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$54,150	$47,530	n/a
55	State government, including schools and hospitals	$52,400	$33,990	1,610
56	Educational Services	$48,970	$31,910	990
57	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$48,730	$31,830	970
58	Sawmills and Wood Preservation	$48,190	$33,040	50
59	Educational Services - State government owned	$47,860	$31,080	800
60	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$47,580	$30,930	780
61	Primary Metal Manufacturing	$47,480	$41,110	40
62	Wood Product Manufacturing	$46,400	$32,930	50
63	Hospitals - State government owned	$46,020	$28,180	50
64	Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals - State government owned	$45,520	$28,040	50
65	Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals	$45,520	$28,040	50