Gas Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a gas plant operators in New Jersey is $110,900/year ($53.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $111,637 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $111K get you in New Jersey?
About gas plant operators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for gas plant operators, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $88K. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level gas plant operators (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $111K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track gas plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a gas plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $111K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for gas plant operators in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new gas plant operators typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,221/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is gas plant operator a high-paying job in New Jersey?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $111K here vs. $88K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for gas plant operators?
New Jersey pays $111K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do gas plant operators make in New Jersey?
The median is $110,900 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $87,020, and experienced gas plant operators can clear $128,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $111K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,789/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 30.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a gas plant operators salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $111,637 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.