Power Plant Operators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,990 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Chattanooga earn between $61,110 and $121,720.
- $60K10th
- $61K25th
- $116KMedian
- $122K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,110 | $8,342 | $48.13 |
| Median | $115,920 | $9,660 | $55.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,110 | $5,092 | $29.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,720 | $10,143 | $58.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Chattanooga earn 8% less than the Tennessee average ($108,900) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $100,110 | $115,920 | $60,210 | $134,990 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $108,900 | $115,920 | $68,060 | $125,690 | 490 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $100,110, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $79,257 a year, or $6,605 a month and $3,048 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $79,257 | $6,605 |
| Working in GA | $75,010 | $6,251 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $100,110 buys what about $109,453 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($111,850).
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$48.13 an hour on average, and $55.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $79,257 a year ($6,605 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,110. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do power plant operators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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