Power Plant Operator salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Power Plant Operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $79,900 a year ($38.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,200 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is about the same as the South Carolina statewide median of $79,900. There are 0.39 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $79,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,240 | $27.52 |
| 25th percentile | $65,830 | $31.65 |
| Median | $79,900 | $38.41 |
| 75th percentile | $89,190 | $42.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,200 | $48.17 |
| Average (mean) | $79,910 | $38.42 |
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 | $6,658.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,329.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,073.08 |
| Weekly | $1,536.54 |
| Hourly | $38.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,900 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.
Power Plant Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $132,030 | 120 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $113,540 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,580 | 60 |
| Columbia, SC | $79,600 | 150 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $67,540 | $32.47 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $88,150 | $42.38 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Baker | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| Machinist | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,970 | $19.70 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $79,900 a year, or $38.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $100,200 a year. The top 25% earn $89,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,240 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $65,830 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 150 power plant operators are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.