Gas Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a gas plant operators in Wisconsin is $85,080/year ($40.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $90,194 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $85K get you in Wisconsin?
About gas plant operators
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Gas plant operators pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $85K locally vs. $88K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level gas plant operators (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
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Track gas plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a gas plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for gas plant operators in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new gas plant operators typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,653/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $85K locally vs. $88K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for gas plant operators?
Wisconsin pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do gas plant operators make in Wisconsin?
The median is $85,080 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,880, and experienced gas plant operators can clear $106,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,398/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 22.3% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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.