Power Plant Operators pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,660 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Birmingham earn between $80,350 and $112,280.
- $79K10th
- $80K25th
- $107KMedian
- $112K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,610 | $8,218 | $47.41 |
| Median | $106,990 | $8,916 | $51.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,350 | $6,696 | $38.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,280 | $9,357 | $53.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Birmingham earn 4% less than the Alabama average ($102,330) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $98,610 | $106,990 | $78,710 | $120,660 | 280 |
| Alabama | $102,330 | $107,080 | $76,250 | $123,520 | 790 |
| United States | $99,790 | $102,040 | $61,790 | $131,940 | 29,320 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Power Plant Operators salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $98,610, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $74,155 a year, or $6,180 a month and $2,852 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $98,610 buys what about $107,601 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 3rd of 3 Alabama metro areas for this job; Decatur pays the most ($105,510).
- Decatur$105,510
- Montgomery$100,010
- Birmingham$98,610
Highest-paying cities for power plant operators
Wenatchee, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,930).
- Wenatchee, WA$150,930
- Sacramento, CA$135,310
- Seattle, WA$132,410
- Fresno, CA$131,280
- San Francisco, CA$130,890
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Power Plant Operators salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Birmingham?
$47.41 an hour on average, and $51.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $74,155 a year ($6,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,610. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($99,790).
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 51-8013; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.84, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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