Power Plant Operators pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,810 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Lexington earn between $50,780 and $115,760.
- $47K10th
- $51K25th
- $84KMedian
- $116K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,100 | $6,925 | $39.95 |
| Median | $84,150 | $7,012 | $40.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,780 | $4,232 | $24.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,760 | $9,647 | $55.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Lexington earn 12% less than the Kentucky average ($93,970) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $83,100 | $84,150 | $47,200 | $115,810 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $93,970 | $93,400 | $66,830 | $118,400 | 690 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $83,100, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $62,215 a year, or $5,185 a month and $2,393 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $83,100 buys what about $89,462 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($98,580).
- Louisville$98,580
- Lexington$83,100
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 Lexington: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Lexington?
$39.95 an hour on average, and $40.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Lexington?
About $62,215 a year ($5,185 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,100. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do power plant operators earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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