Gas Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a gas plant operators in Kansas is $80,760/year ($38.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $90,194 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,066/month, or 20.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Kansas?
About gas plant operators
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What this looks like in Kansas
Gas plant operators pay in Kansas tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $88K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,066/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas
Entry-level gas plant operators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Gas Plant Operators salary by metro in Kansas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $79K | -2% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a gas plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for gas plant operators in Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new gas plant operators typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,611/month. At HUD’s $1,066/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is gas plant operator a high-paying job in Kansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $88K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for gas plant operators?
Kansas pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do gas plant operators make in Kansas?
The median is $80,760 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,180, and experienced gas plant operators can clear $106,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,105/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a gas plant operators salary go in Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median gas plant operators salary is worth about $90,194 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do gas plant operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.