Power Plant Operator salary in Arkansas
Power Plant Operators in Arkansas earn a median of $97,760 a year ($47.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,650 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $102,040. Arkansas ranks 33rd of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.17 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $90,450, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| 25th percentile | $82,370 | $39.60 |
| Median | $97,760 | $47.00 |
| 75th percentile | $101,350 | $48.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,650 | $49.35 |
| Average (mean) | $90,450 | $43.48 |
Half of power plant operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,146.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,073.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,760 |
| Weekly | $1,880 |
| Hourly | $47.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Power Plant Operator salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $119,080 | 120 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $89,460 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for power plant operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $131,620 |
| Nevada | $131,400 |
| New Jersey | $131,370 |
| Idaho | $124,440 |
| North Dakota | $122,160 |
| Hawaii | $121,700 |
| Tennessee | $115,920 |
| Maryland | $111,260 |
| Oregon | $109,830 |
| North Carolina | $108,300 |
Related jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $100,870 | $48.49 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $91,610 | $44.04 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $86,580 | $41.63 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $117,370 | $56.43 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $58,000 | $27.89 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $46,020 | $22.13 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,740 | $18.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8013. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power plant operator make in Arkansas?
The median salary for power plant operators in Arkansas is $97,760 a year, or $47.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Arkansas earn at least $102,650 a year. The top 25% earn $101,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,000 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $82,370 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Arkansas?
About 220 power plant operators are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.