Power Plant Operator salary in Longview, TX
Power Plant Operators in the Longview, TX metro area earn a median of $100,180 a year ($48.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,510 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $102,040. Pay here is 2% lower than the Texas statewide median of $102,510. There are 1.0 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $103,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for power plant operators in Longview, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,280 | $38.11 |
| 25th percentile | $99,720 | $47.94 |
| Median | $100,180 | $48.16 |
| 75th percentile | $107,490 | $51.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,510 | $58.42 |
| Average (mean) | $103,000 | $49.52 |
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 | $8,348.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,174.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,853.08 |
| Weekly | $1,926.54 |
| Hourly | $48.16 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $110,950 | 220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $106,720 | 240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $104,620 | 530 |
| Lubbock, TX | $101,900 | 40 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $101,560 | 40 |
| El Paso, TX | $97,670 | 80 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $85,350 | 170 |
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 Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Longview, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,300 | $25.14 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,810 | $34.52 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| Machinist | $48,350 | $23.25 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,310 | $21.79 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $33,610 | $16.16 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $27,040 | $13.00 |
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 Longview, TX?
The median salary for power plant operators in the Longview, TX metro area is $100,180 a year, or $48.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Longview, TX?
The top 10% of power plant operators in the Longview, TX metro area earn at least $121,510 a year. The top 25% earn $107,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Longview, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,280 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $99,720 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Longview, TX?
About 120 power plant operators are employed in the Longview, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.