Power Plant Operator salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Power Plant Operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $104,120 a year ($50.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,500 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 11% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $93,400. There are 0.17 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $98,580, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,120 | $35.64 |
| 25th percentile | $87,350 | $41.99 |
| Median | $104,120 | $50.06 |
| 75th percentile | $112,150 | $53.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,500 | $56.97 |
| Average (mean) | $98,580 | $47.39 |
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 | $8,676.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,338.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,004.62 |
| Weekly | $2,002.31 |
| Hourly | $50.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $104,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $123,540 | 640 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $109,820 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $109,090 | 100 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $103,030 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $100,300 | 30 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $84,150 | 30 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $52,230 | $25.11 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $97,210 | $46.74 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $71,800 | $34.52 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,010 | $36.06 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Printing Press Operator | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,180 | $23.65 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $104,120 a year, or $50.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $118,500 a year. The top 25% earn $112,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,120 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $87,350 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 120 power plant operators are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.