Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $102,240/year ($49.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $115,538 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,095/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Power plant operators pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,095/month, 17.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for power plant operators in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $132K | $136K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $119K | $119K |
| Columbia | $80K | $85K |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $80K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $36K 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 with published data
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 17.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,973/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $102,240 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,880, and experienced power plant operators can clear $118,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,309/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 17.4% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (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 $115,538 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.