Gas Plant Operators Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $81,960 -1.7% vs national
Median hourly $39.41
10th percentile $49,060
90th percentile $84,290
Employed locally 40
National median $83,400

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Gas Plant Operators
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,060
    25th
    $50,690
    50th (median)
    $81,960
    75th
    $82,830
    90th
    $84,290

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Gas Plant Operators salary vs area income 124% Median Gas Plant Operators salary is 24% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Gas Plant Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $126,640
    California $124,980
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $124,100
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $118,640
    Baton Rouge, LA $113,570
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $107,810

    Nearby metros — Gas Plant Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Wisconsin $87,170
    Spartanburg, SC $79,170
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $77,890
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $69,960

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $39,150
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,920
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $38,280
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,130
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Gas Plant Operators make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Gas Plant Operators in Columbia, SC is $39.41, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.52 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Gas Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Gas Plant Operators salary in Columbia, SC is 1.7% below the national median of $83,400. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Gas Plant Operators in Columbia?

    Entry-level Gas Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $49,060 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,690.