Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Georgia is $107,580/year ($51.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $117,075 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 21.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $108K get you in Georgia?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Georgia
Power plant operators pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $108K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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, Georgia
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Georgia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $119K | +11% | 260 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $114K | +6% | 90 |
| Savannah | $59K | -45% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,520/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $108K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Georgia pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Georgia?
The median is $107,580 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,660, and experienced power plant operators can clear $124,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,551/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 21.9% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $117,075 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.