Power Plant Operator salary in Gainesville, FL
Power Plant Operators in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn a median of $78,890 a year ($37.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,450 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 16% lower than the Florida statewide median of $94,290. There are 0.35 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,880, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Gainesville, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| 25th percentile | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Median | $78,890 | $37.93 |
| 75th percentile | $90,450 | $43.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,450 | $43.48 |
| Average (mean) | $78,880 | $37.92 |
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 | $6,574.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,287.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,034.23 |
| Weekly | $1,517.12 |
| Hourly | $37.93 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $119,550 | 90 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $109,090 | 50 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $106,540 | 100 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $105,740 | 170 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $84,690 | 290 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $71,070 | 30 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,080 | 380 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gainesville, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,930 | $17.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $61,290 | $29.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,390 | $15.09 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Baker | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Machinist | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| Medical Appliance Technician | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| Printing Press Operator | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,360 | $22.77 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Gainesville, FL
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 Gainesville, FL?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $78,890 a year, or $37.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Gainesville, FL?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn at least $90,450 a year. The top 25% earn $90,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Gainesville, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,540 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $71,240 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Gainesville, FL?
About 50 power plant operators are employed in the Gainesville, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.