Plant and System Operators, All Other Salary
The median pay for a plant and system operators, all other in Colorado is $51,600/year ($24.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $49,754 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 53% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $52K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About plant and system operators, all others
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What this looks like in Colorado
Pay for plant and system operators, all other in Colorado runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 53.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for plant and system operators, all other.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level plant and system operators, all others (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary by metro in Colorado
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $71K | +37% | 70 |
| Colorado Springs | $62K | +20% | 90 |
| Boulder | $58K | +11% | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $49K | -6% | 480 |
| Greeley | $47K | -9% | 110 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a plant and system operators, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 53.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for plant and system operators, all others in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plant and system operators, all others typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,760/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plant and system operators, all other a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $52K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for plant and system operators, all others?
Colorado pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do plant and system operators, all others make in Colorado?
The median is $51,600 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,930, and experienced plant and system operators, all others can clear $81,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,436/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 53.3% 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 plant and system operators, all other salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median plant and system operators, all other salary is worth about $49,754 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plant and system operators, all others 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.