Power Plant Operators pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $119,110 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Decatur earn between $105,370 and $118,170.
- $58K10th
- $105K25th
- $116KMedian
- $118K75th
- $119K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,510 | $8,792 | $50.73 |
| Median | $115,920 | $9,660 | $55.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,370 | $8,781 | $50.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $118,170 | $9,848 | $56.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Decatur earn 3% more than the Alabama average ($102,330) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $105,510 | $115,920 | $57,950 | $119,110 | 30 |
| 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 Decatur
On the average salary of $105,510, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $78,740 a year, or $6,562 a month and $3,028 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 Decatur a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $105,510 buys what about $120,981 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 1st of 3 Alabama metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Decatur: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Decatur?
$50.73 an hour on average, and $55.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Decatur?
About $78,740 a year ($6,562 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,510. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than 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 Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 2.70, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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