Power Plant Operator salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Power Plant Operators in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $105,370 a year ($50.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,080 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 9% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $115,920. There are 0.08 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $100,710, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| 25th percentile | $95,800 | $46.06 |
| Median | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| 75th percentile | $115,920 | $55.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,080 | $57.25 |
| Average (mean) | $100,710 | $48.42 |
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 | $8,780.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,390.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,052.69 |
| Weekly | $2,026.35 |
| Hourly | $50.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $105,370 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $119,080 | 120 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $115,920 | 60 |
| Knoxville, TN | $115,920 | 90 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $73,790 | $35.48 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $66,970 | $32.20 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $60,240 | $28.96 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $56,400 | $27.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,510 | $19.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,470 | $33.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,380 | $21.82 |
| Baker | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Machinist | $51,430 | $24.72 |
| Printing Press Operator | $46,220 | $22.22 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $105,370 a year, or $50.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $119,080 a year. The top 25% earn $115,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,240 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $95,800 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 80 power plant operators are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.