Power Plant Operator salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Power Plant Operators in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median of $85,350 a year ($41.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,890 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 17% lower than the Texas statewide median of $102,510. There are 0.13 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $94,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| 25th percentile | $64,030 | $30.78 |
| Median | $85,350 | $41.03 |
| 75th percentile | $118,720 | $57.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,890 | $67.26 |
| Average (mean) | $94,730 | $45.55 |
Half of power plant operators 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 | $7,112.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,556.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,282.69 |
| Weekly | $1,641.35 |
| Hourly | $41.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $85,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Power Plant Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $110,950 | 220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $106,720 | 240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $104,620 | 530 |
| Lubbock, TX | $101,900 | 40 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $101,560 | 40 |
| Longview, TX | $100,180 | 120 |
| El Paso, TX | $97,670 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for power plant operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $131,620 |
| Nevada | $131,400 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 |
| Idaho | $124,440 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 |
| Maryland | $111,260 |
| Oregon | $109,830 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 |
See Power Plant Operator pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $55,790 | $26.82 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $109,150 | $52.47 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $62,430 | $30.02 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,470 | $34.36 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,040 | $28.39 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,000 | $20.19 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Baker | $35,840 | $17.23 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| Machinist | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,870 | $18.69 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8013. 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 power plant operator make in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $85,350 a year, or $41.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn at least $139,890 a year. The top 25% earn $118,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,280 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $64,030 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
About 170 power plant operators are employed in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.