Power Plant Operators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,470 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Columbia earn between $67,640 and $94,320.
- $64K10th
- $68K25th
- $80KMedian
- $94K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,850 | $6,821 | $39.35 |
| Median | $79,600 | $6,633 | $38.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,640 | $5,637 | $32.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,320 | $7,860 | $45.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($80,990) and 18% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $81,850 | $79,600 | $64,450 | $98,470 | 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $81,850, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $63,300 a year, or $5,275 a month and $2,435 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $81,850 buys what about $87,389 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd 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 Columbia: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Columbia?
$39.35 an hour on average, and $38.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $63,300 a year ($5,275 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,850.
Do power plant operators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.95, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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