Power Plant Operators pay range in Huntington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,730 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Huntington earn between $73,080 and $103,790.
- $67K10th
- $73K25th
- $100KMedian
- $104K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,310 | $7,859 | $45.34 |
| Median | $100,300 | $8,358 | $48.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,080 | $6,090 | $35.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,790 | $8,649 | $49.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Huntington vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Huntington earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($93,210) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $94,310 | $100,300 | $66,830 | $120,730 | 30 |
| West Virginia | $93,210 | $97,210 | $57,180 | $119,990 | 170 |
| 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 Huntington
On the average salary of $94,310, a single filer in Huntington takes home about $71,747 a year, or $5,979 a month and $2,759 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $73,019 | $6,085 |
| Working in KY | $71,994 | $5,999 |
| Working in WV | $71,747 | $5,979 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Huntington a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Huntington area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.4), so the average $94,310 buys what about $106,659 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Huntington ($44,600). A typical home costs $166,506, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Lexington, KY$83,100
- Columbus, OH$100,520
- Cincinnati, OH$99,790
- Louisville, KY$98,580
- Knoxville, TN$111,850
- Hickory, NC$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 Huntington: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Huntington?
$45.34 an hour on average, and $48.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Huntington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Huntington?
About $71,747 a year ($5,979 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,310.
Do power plant operators earn more in Huntington than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH (26580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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