Power Plant Operator salary in Texas
Power Plant Operators in Texas earn a median of $102,510 a year ($49.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,710 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $102,040. Texas ranks 24th of 49 states for power plant operators pay. There are 0.15 power plant operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $97,000, close to the median.
Pay range for power plant operators in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,500 | $26.69 |
| 25th percentile | $66,430 | $31.94 |
| Median | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| 75th percentile | $117,340 | $56.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| Average (mean) | $97,000 | $46.63 |
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 | $8,542.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,271.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,942.69 |
| Weekly | $1,971.35 |
| Hourly | $49.28 |
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 Texas
| 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 |
| Longview, TX | $100,180 | 120 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $84,100 | $40.43 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $50,820 | $24.43 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $79,910 | $38.42 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $102,750 | $49.40 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $102,890 | $49.46 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $63,810 | $30.68 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Machinist | $59,180 | $28.45 |
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 Texas?
The median salary for power plant operators in Texas is $102,510 a year, or $49.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid power plant operators make in Texas?
The top 10% of power plant operators in Texas earn at least $127,710 a year. The top 25% earn $117,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for power plant operators in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,500 a year, and a quarter of power plant operators earn $66,430 or less.
How many power plant operators work in Texas?
About 2,100 power plant operators are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.