Power Plant Operators pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,600 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Hickory earn between $82,880 and $106,870.
- $83K10th
- $83K25th
- $102KMedian
- $107K75th
- $119K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,610 | $8,051 | $46.45 |
| Median | $102,240 | $8,520 | $49.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,880 | $6,907 | $39.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,870 | $8,906 | $51.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Hickory earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($100,460) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $96,610 | $102,240 | $82,880 | $118,600 | 40 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $96,610, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $73,449 a year, or $6,121 a month and $2,825 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $96,610 buys what about $109,181 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 2nd of 2 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($114,600).
- 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 Hickory: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Hickory?
$46.45 an hour on average, and $49.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Hickory?
About $73,449 a year ($6,121 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,610.
Do power plant operators earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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