Power Plant Operators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,260 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Memphis earn between $68,060 and $125,690.
- $68K10th
- $68K25th
- $119KMedian
- $126K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,310 | $8,692 | $50.15 |
| Median | $119,080 | $9,923 | $57.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,060 | $5,672 | $32.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $125,690 | $10,474 | $60.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Memphis earn 4% less than the Tennessee average ($108,900) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $104,310 | $119,080 | $68,060 | $138,260 | 120 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $104,310, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $82,212 a year, or $6,851 a month and $3,162 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $82,212 | $6,851 |
| Working in MS | $78,772 | $6,564 |
| Working in AR | $78,553 | $6,546 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $104,310 buys what about $113,160 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Knoxville pays the most ($111,850).
- Knoxville$111,850
- Memphis$104,310
- Nashville$100,710
- Chattanooga$100,110
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 Memphis: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Memphis?
$50.15 an hour on average, and $57.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $82,212 a year ($6,851 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,310. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do power plant operators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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