Gas Plant Operators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,690 or more. The middle half of gas plant operators in Charleston earn between $64,260 and $100,300.
- $61K10th
- $64K25th
- $86KMedian
- $100K75th
- $119K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,660 | $7,055 | $40.70 |
| Median | $85,790 | $7,149 | $41.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,260 | $5,355 | $30.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,300 | $8,358 | $48.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Gas Plant Operators pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Gas plant operators in Charleston earn 5% more than the West Virginia average ($80,530) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($88,710). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $87,820.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $84,660 | $85,790 | $60,520 | $118,690 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $80,530 | $82,600 | $52,000 | $100,460 | 420 |
| United States | $88,710 | $87,820 | $61,350 | $115,520 | 18,030 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Gas Plant Operators salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $84,660, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $65,400 a year, or $5,450 a month and $2,515 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for gas plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $84,660 buys what about $95,427 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Gas Plant Operators salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 2nd of 3 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Wheeling pays the most ($85,340).
- Wheeling$85,340
- Charleston$84,660
- Huntington$71,270
Highest-paying cities for gas plant operators
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,110).
- Los Angeles, CA$121,110
- New York, NY$115,310
- Riverside, CA$114,070
- Portland, OR$110,150
- Detroit, MI$103,970
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Gas Plant Operators salary in Charleston: questions
How much do gas plant operators make an hour in Charleston?
$40.70 an hour on average, and $41.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level gas plant operators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the gas plant operators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $65,400 a year ($5,450 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,660.
Do gas plant operators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($88,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8092; area Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 8.26, this job is 8.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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