Power Plant Operator salary in Columbia, SC
Power Plant Operators in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $79,600 a year ($38.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,470 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is about the same as the South Carolina statewide median of $79,900. There are 0.37 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,450 | $30.98 |
| 25th percentile | $67,640 | $32.52 |
| Median | $79,600 | $38.27 |
| 75th percentile | $94,320 | $45.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,470 | $47.34 |
| Average (mean) | $81,850 | $39.35 |
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 | $6,633.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,316.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,061.54 |
| Weekly | $1,530.77 |
| Hourly | $38.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Power Plant Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $132,030 | 120 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $113,540 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,580 | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $79,900 | 150 |
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 |
See Power Plant Operator pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,010 | $48.56 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $81,960 | $39.41 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $70,620 | $33.95 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $64,930 | $31.22 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,230 | $20.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,010 | $24.53 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Columbia, SC metro area is $79,600 a year, or $38.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $98,470 a year. The top 25% earn $94,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,450 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $67,640 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Columbia, SC?
About 150 power plant operators are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.