Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is $104,120/year ($50.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.07), which stretches that salary to about $111,873 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $104K get you in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Louisville/Jefferson County’s Regional Price Parity (93.07). 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 Louisville/Jefferson County
Power plant operators pay in Louisville/Jefferson County tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.07 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $84K | $91K |
| St. Louis | $102K | $107K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $124K | $119K |
| Kansas City | $110K | $119K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $44K 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 Louisville/Jefferson County numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Louisville/Jefferson County?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,447/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Louisville/Jefferson County compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Louisville/Jefferson County pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.07), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median is $104,120 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,120, and experienced power plant operators can clear $118,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Louisville/Jefferson County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,456/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 19.7% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
Louisville/Jefferson County has a Regional Price Parity of 93.07 (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 $111,873 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.