Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Mississippi is $102,400/year ($49.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $115,186 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,077/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $102K get you in Mississippi?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Power plant operators pay in Mississippi 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 $1,077/month, 17.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Mississippi
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Mississippi
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $104K | +2% | 110 |
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Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 17.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,946/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Mississippi?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Mississippi pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Mississippi?
The median is $102,400 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,770, and experienced power plant operators can clear $125,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,301/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 17.1% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $115,186 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.