The average salary for a power plant operator in Tennessee is around $80,970 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $80,970.
Wages typically start from $44,190 and go up to $96,570.
24% above national average Updated in 2018
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$46.43 per hour
$96,570 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$42.82 per hour
$89,060 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$38.93 per hour
$80,970 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$30.88 per hour
$64,230 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$21.25 per hour
$44,190 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Power plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $95,340 |
| Washington | $93,330 |
| Hawaii | $92,620 |
| North Dakota | $92,350 |
| Maryland | $91,770 |
| New York | $90,690 |
| New Jersey | $88,110 |
| Nevada | $87,460 |
| North Carolina | $85,980 |
| Montana | $85,340 |
| Minnesota | $84,830 |
| Oregon | $82,500 |
| Colorado | $82,030 |
| New Mexico | $81,520 |
| Wyoming | $81,160 |
| Tennessee | $80,970 |
| Massachusetts | $80,590 |
| Alabama | $79,676 |
| Michigan | $78,850 |
| Utah | $78,070 |
| Iowa | $77,610 |
| Kentucky | $76,960 |
| Texas | $76,520 |
| Missouri | $76,100 |
| Mississippi | $75,840 |
| Connecticut | $74,880 |
| Nebraska | $74,290 |
| Florida | $74,250 |
| South Carolina | $73,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,720 |
| Ohio | $73,260 |
| Louisiana | $72,390 |
| Illinois | $71,986 |
| Arkansas | $71,710 |
| South Dakota | $71,590 |
| Georgia | $71,480 |
| Oklahoma | $69,900 |
| West Virginia | $68,800 |
| Indiana | $68,330 |
| Maine | $68,110 |
| New Hampshire | $66,730 |
| Wisconsin | $64,030 |
| Idaho | $62,720 |
| Rhode Island | $61,010 |
| Vermont | $60,560 |
| Virginia | $56,200 |
| Alaska | $55,620 |
| Kansas | $53,020 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,800 |
How do power plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Power plant operators earn about the same as related careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than industrial production managers but more than boilermakers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial production manager salary | $93K |
| Biomass power plant manager salary | $93K |
| Aviation inspector salary | $80K |
| Power plant operator salary | $81K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $74K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $69K |
| Radio mechanic salary | $81K |
| Boilermaker salary | $73K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)