Power Plant Operators Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median pay for a power plant operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $110,190/year ($52.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $112,934 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $110K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124K | +24% | 570 |
| New York | $122K | +22% | 2,350 |
| Hawaii | $115K | +16% | 430 |
| Oregon | $115K | +15% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $110K | +10% | 210 |
| North Dakota | $109K | +10% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $107K | +8% | 550 |
| Arizona | $107K | +8% | 890 |
| Nevada | $107K | +7% | 390 |
| Maryland | $106K | +7% | 310 |
| California | $106K | +6% | 2,390 |
| South Dakota | $105K | +6% | 40 |
| Wyoming | $105K | +6% | 210 |
| Michigan | $104K | +4% | 1,200 |
| Utah | $104K | +4% | 340 |
| Alabama | $104K | +4% | 730 |
| Georgia | $104K | +4% | 420 |
| Texas | $103K | +3% | 1,880 |
| Illinois | $103K | +3% | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $103K | +3% | 280 |
| Indiana | $103K | +3% | 900 |
| Montana | $103K | +3% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $102K | +2% | 1,060 |
| Delaware | $102K | +2% | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +1% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $99K | -0% | 500 |
| Iowa | $99K | -1% | 380 |
| Nebraska | $99K | -1% | 240 |
| New Mexico | $99K | -1% | 130 |
| Vermont | $98K | -1% | 130 |
| Ohio | $98K | -2% | 630 |
| West Virginia | $96K | -3% | 300 |
| Mississippi | $95K | -5% | 450 |
| Louisiana | $95K | -5% | 570 |
| Connecticut | $92K | -7% | 220 |
| Kansas | $90K | -10% | 500 |
| Arkansas | $89K | -11% | 240 |
| Minnesota | $88K | -12% | 710 |
| Kentucky | $87K | -12% | 550 |
| Missouri | $86K | -13% | 760 |
| Pennsylvania | $85K | -14% | 1,380 |
| Alaska | $85K | -15% | 750 |
| Florida | $84K | -16% | 1,330 |
| Wisconsin | $81K | -18% | 660 |
| Oklahoma | $81K | -19% | 600 |
| South Carolina | $79K | -21% | 850 |
| Virginia | $78K | -21% | 730 |
| Maine | $78K | -22% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -27% | 150 |
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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do power plant operators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $110,190 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,450, and experienced power plant operators can clear $138,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $110K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,745/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 25.4% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $112,934 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.