Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC is $113,540/year ($54.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.9), which stretches that salary to about $123,547 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,261/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $114K get you in Augusta-Richmond County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Augusta-Richmond County’s Regional Price Parity (91.9). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Augusta-Richmond County
Augusta-Richmond County sits well above the national pay line for power plant operators, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,261/month, 18.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Augusta-Richmond County offers a genuinely strong financial position for power plant operatorss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for power plant operators in metros near Augusta-Richmond County, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $119K | $119K |
| Savannah | $59K | $62K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $62K | $54K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $85K | $84K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $114K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Power Plant Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $132K | +29% | 430 |
| Nevada | $131K | +29% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $131K | +29% | 300 |
| Idaho | $124K | +22% | 310 |
| North Dakota | $122K | +20% | 150 |
| Hawaii | $122K | +19% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $116K | +14% | 490 |
| Maryland | $111K | +9% | 330 |
| Oregon | $110K | +8% | 250 |
| North Carolina | $108K | +6% | 420 |
| Georgia | $108K | +5% | 590 |
| Utah | $107K | +5% | 420 |
| Alabama | $107K | +5% | 790 |
| Indiana | $107K | +5% | 1,190 |
| New York | $107K | +5% | 1,960 |
| Montana | $106K | +4% | 130 |
| Michigan | $106K | +4% | 1,220 |
| New Mexico | $106K | +3% | 130 |
| California | $105K | +3% | 2,610 |
| Illinois | $104K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $104K | +2% | 730 |
| Delaware | $103K | +1% | 80 |
| Colorado | $103K | +1% | 250 |
| Texas | $103K | +0% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $102K | +0% | 450 |
| Missouri | $102K | -0% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $101K | -1% | 370 |
| Iowa | $101K | -2% | 470 |
| Massachusetts | $100K | -2% | 880 |
| Wyoming | $99K | -3% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $98K | -4% | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $98K | -4% | 50 |
| Arkansas | $98K | -4% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $97K | -4% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $97K | -5% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $96K | -6% | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $94K | -7% | 970 |
| Florida | $94K | -8% | 1,640 |
| Kentucky | $93K | -8% | 690 |
| Alaska | $89K | -13% | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $89K | -13% | 520 |
| Arizona | $85K | -17% | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $81K | -21% | 90 |
| Maine | $81K | -21% | 190 |
| Kansas | $80K | -22% | 520 |
| South Carolina | $80K | -22% | 680 |
| Vermont | $78K | -23% | 140 |
| Virginia | $74K | -28% | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -35% | 420 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Augusta-Richmond County numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Augusta-Richmond County?
Yes — at the median salary of $114K, rent takes 18.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,261/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Augusta-Richmond County?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,859/month. At HUD’s $1,261/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 power plant operator a high-paying job in Augusta-Richmond County?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $114K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Augusta-Richmond County compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Augusta-Richmond County pays $114K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The median is $113,540 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,320, and experienced power plant operators can clear $113,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $114K enough to live in Augusta-Richmond County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,873/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,261/month, which eats 18.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a power plant operators salary go in Augusta-Richmond County?
Augusta-Richmond County has a Regional Price Parity of 91.9 (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 power plant operators salary is worth about $123,547 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do power 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.