Power Plant Operators Salary in Charlotte, NC-SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Median annual salary $108,730 +9.1% vs national
Median hourly $52.27
10th percentile $71,750
90th percentile $127,900
National median $99,670

Compare Power Plant Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Charlotte, NC-SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Power Plant Operators
in
Charlotte, NC-SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $71,750
    25th
    $90,510
    50th (median)
    $108,730
    75th
    $127,900
    90th
    $127,900

    Charlotte economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,201 2023 • Census ACS
    Power Plant Operators salary vs area income 136% Median Power Plant Operators salary is 36% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Power Plant Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $156,260
    Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $140,800
    Fresno, CA $136,640
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $136,300
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $133,460
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $128,340

    Nearby metros — Power Plant Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $136,300
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $118,520
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $110,190
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $105,870
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $102,950
    Anchorage, AK $100,400

    Related occupations in Charlotte, NC-SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $42,570
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,520
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,050
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $53,760
    Production Workers, All Other $37,820
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $41,340

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Power Plant Operators make per hour in Charlotte?

    The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in Charlotte, NC-SC is $52.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $63.48 or more per hour.

    Is Charlotte above or below average for Power Plant Operators salaries?

    The median Power Plant Operators salary in Charlotte, NC-SC is 9.1% above the national median of $99,670. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Power Plant Operators in Charlotte?

    Entry-level Power Plant Operators (10th percentile) earn around $71,750 per year in Charlotte, NC-SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $90,510.