Power Plant Operator salary in Mississippi
Power Plant Operators in Mississippi earn a median of $102,400 a year ($49.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,690 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $102,040. Mississippi ranks 25th of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.39 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,620, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,770 | $31.62 |
| 25th percentile | $83,890 | $40.33 |
| Median | $102,400 | $49.23 |
| 75th percentile | $107,330 | $51.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,690 | $60.43 |
| Average (mean) | $96,620 | $46.45 |
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 | $8,533.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,266.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,938.46 |
| Weekly | $1,969.23 |
| Hourly | $49.23 |
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 Mississippi
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $119,080 | 120 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $104,190 | 110 |
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 Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $46,480 | $22.34 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $75,180 | $36.15 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $71,080 | $34.17 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $53,640 | $25.79 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $65,080 | $31.29 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $98,960 | $47.58 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $68,720 | $33.04 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $40,670 | $19.55 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,720 | $18.14 |
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 Mississippi?
The median salary for power plant operators in Mississippi is $102,400 a year, or $49.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Mississippi earn at least $125,690 a year. The top 25% earn $107,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,770 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $83,890 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Mississippi?
About 450 power plant operators are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.