Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Knoxville, TN
Plant and System Operators, All Other in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $54,910 a year ($26.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,050 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 9% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $60,240. There are 0.07 plant and system operators, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $57,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for plant and system operators, all other in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| 25th percentile | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Median | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| 75th percentile | $59,140 | $28.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,050 | $34.16 |
| Average (mean) | $57,970 | $27.87 |
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 | $4,575.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,287.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,111.92 |
| Weekly | $1,055.96 |
| Hourly | $26.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,240 | 30 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| Power Plant Operator | $115,920 | $55.73 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,170 | $24.60 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| Baker | $31,890 | $15.33 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,490 | $18.03 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for plant and system operators, all other in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $54,910 a year, or $26.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plant and system operators, all other make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of plant and system operators, all other in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $71,050 a year. The top 25% earn $59,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for plant and system operators, all other in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,630 a year, and a quarter of plant and system operators, all other earn $50,690 or less.
How many plant and system operators, all other work in Knoxville, TN?
About 30 plant and system operators, all other are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.