Power Plant Operators pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,040 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Charlotte earn between $102,980 and $132,040.
- $72K10th
- $103K25th
- $132KMedian
- $132K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,600 | $9,550 | $55.10 |
| Median | $132,030 | $11,002 | $63.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,980 | $8,582 | $49.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,040 | $11,003 | $63.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Charlotte earn 14% more than the North Carolina average ($100,460) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $114,600 | $132,030 | $72,310 | $132,040 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $100,460 | $108,300 | $62,580 | $132,040 | 420 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $114,600, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $85,387 a year, or $7,116 a month and $3,284 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $85,387 | $7,116 |
| Working in SC | $84,446 | $7,037 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $114,600 buys what about $117,722 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 1st of 2 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charlotte$114,600
- Hickory$96,610
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Charlotte?
$55.10 an hour on average, and $63.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $85,387 a year ($7,116 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,600.
Do power plant operators earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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