Power Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a power plant operators in Texas is $102,510/year ($49.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $112,045 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in Texas?
About power plant operators
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What this looks like in Texas
Power plant operators pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 21.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level power plant operators (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Power Plant Operators salary by metro in Texas
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $111K | +8% | 220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $107K | +4% | 240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $105K | +2% | 530 |
| Lubbock | $102K | -1% | 40 |
| College Station-Bryan | $102K | -1% | 40 |
| Longview | $100K | -2% | 120 |
| El Paso | $98K | -5% | 80 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $85K | -17% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track power plant operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 21.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for power plant operators in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new power plant operators typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,330/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for power plant operators?
Texas pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do power plant operators make in Texas?
The median is $102,510 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,500, and experienced power plant operators can clear $127,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,709/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 21.1% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $112,045 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.