Power Plant Operators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,200 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Charleston earn between $65,830 and $89,190.
- $57K10th
- $66K25th
- $80KMedian
- $89K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,910 | $6,659 | $38.42 |
| Median | $79,900 | $6,658 | $38.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,830 | $5,486 | $31.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,190 | $7,432 | $42.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($80,990) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $79,910 | $79,900 | $57,240 | $100,200 | 150 |
| South Carolina | $80,990 | $79,900 | $58,880 | $100,200 | 680 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $79,910, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $62,064 a year, or $5,172 a month and $2,387 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $79,910 buys what about $79,149 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 3rd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($85,870).
- Greenville$85,870
- Columbia$81,850
- Charleston$79,910
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 Charleston: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Charleston?
$38.42 an hour on average, and $38.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $62,064 a year ($5,172 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,910.
Do power plant operators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 2.05, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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