Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Columbia, SC
Plant and System Operators, All Other in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $70,620 a year ($33.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,080 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 26% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $56,060. There are 0.10 plant and system operators, all other per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $66,310, close to the median.
Pay range for plant and system operators, all other in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| 25th percentile | $55,380 | $26.63 |
| Median | $70,620 | $33.95 |
| 75th percentile | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| Average (mean) | $66,310 | $31.88 |
Half of plant and system operators, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,885 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,942.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,716.15 |
| Weekly | $1,358.08 |
| Hourly | $33.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,200 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for plant and system operators, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $120,660 |
| Washington | $88,730 |
| Minnesota | $88,290 |
| Maryland | $81,890 |
| Montana | $81,340 |
| Nevada | $80,000 |
| California | $78,020 |
| Illinois | $77,780 |
| Iowa | $75,800 |
| New York | $74,700 |
See Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Power Plant Operator | $79,600 | $38.27 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,010 | $48.56 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $81,960 | $39.41 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $64,930 | $31.22 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,230 | $20.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,010 | $24.53 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8099. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a plant and system operators, all other make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for plant and system operators, all other in the Columbia, SC metro area is $70,620 a year, or $33.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plant and system operators, all other make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of plant and system operators, all other in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $79,080 a year. The top 25% earn $79,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for plant and system operators, all other in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,240 a year, and a quarter of plant and system operators, all other earn $55,380 or less.
How many plant and system operators, all other work in Columbia, SC?
About 40 plant and system operators, all other are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.