Power Plant Operator salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Power Plant Operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $132,030 a year ($63.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,040 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 22% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $108,300. There are 0.09 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $114,600, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,310 | $34.77 |
| 25th percentile | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Median | $132,030 | $63.48 |
| 75th percentile | $132,040 | $63.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,040 | $63.48 |
| Average (mean) | $114,600 | $55.10 |
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 | $11,002.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,501.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,078.08 |
| Weekly | $2,539.04 |
| Hourly | $63.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $132,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in North 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $113,540 | 90 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $102,240 | 40 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,580 | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $79,900 | 150 |
| Columbia, SC | $79,600 | 150 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $66,500 | 110 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $89,140 | $42.85 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,620 | $20.49 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,070 | $26.96 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| Baker | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Machinist | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,100 | $21.68 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $132,030 a year, or $63.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $132,040 a year. The top 25% earn $132,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,310 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $102,980 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 120 power plant operators are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.