Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Tennessee is $115,920/year ($55.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $129,116 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 15.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $116K get you in Tennessee?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for power plant operators, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Tennessee offers a genuinely strong financial position for power plant operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $116K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $119K | +3% | 120 |
| Chattanooga | $116K | +0% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $116K | +0% | 90 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $105K | -9% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $116K, rent takes 16.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,084/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is power plant operator a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $116K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Tennessee pays $116K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Tennessee?
The median is $115,920 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,060, and experienced power plant operators can clear $125,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $116K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,495/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 16.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $129,116 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.