Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Louisiana is $101,170/year ($48.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $115,914 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 18.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Louisiana?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Power plant operators pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 18.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Louisiana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $104K | +3% | 120 |
| Alexandria | $103K | +2% | 40 |
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Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 18.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,745/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Louisiana pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Louisiana?
The median is $101,170 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,410, and experienced power plant operators can clear $123,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,320/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 18.8% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $115,914 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.