The average salary for a power plant operator in South Carolina is around $79,900 per year.
Avg Salary
Power plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $79,900.
Wages typically start from $58,880 and go up to $100,200.
25% above national average Updated in 2025
Power plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$48.17 per hour
$100,200 per year
Senior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$45.35 per hour
$94,320 per year
Mid-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$38.41 per hour
$79,900 per year
Junior-level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$32.52 per hour
$67,640 per year
Starting level power plant operator earnings begin at:
$28.31 per hour
$58,880 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Power plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $99,200 |
| Nebraska | $98,210 |
| Rhode Island | $98,050 |
| Arkansas | $97,760 |
| Connecticut | $97,460 |
| West Virginia | $97,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,800 |
| Minnesota | $94,390 |
| Florida | $94,290 |
| Kentucky | $93,400 |
| Alaska | $88,870 |
| Oklahoma | $88,590 |
| Arizona | $84,970 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 |
| Maine | $81,060 |
| South Dakota | $80,310 |
| Kansas | $79,980 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 |
| Vermont | $78,240 |
| Virginia | $73,640 |
| Wisconsin | $66,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,290 |
| 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 |
| Georgia | $107,580 |
| Utah | $107,120 |
| Alabama | $107,080 |
| Indiana | $107,000 |
| New York | $106,990 |
| Montana | $106,040 |
| Michigan | $105,820 |
| New Mexico | $105,510 |
| California | $105,210 |
| Illinois | $104,440 |
| Ohio | $104,160 |
| Delaware | $103,010 |
| Colorado | $102,780 |
| Texas | $102,510 |
| Mississippi | $102,400 |
| Missouri | $101,900 |
| Louisiana | $101,170 |
| Iowa | $100,500 |
| Massachusetts | $100,140 |
How do power plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Power plant operators earn about the same as related careers in South Carolina. On average, they make less than occupational health specialists but more than boilermakers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational health specialist salary | $88K |
| Elevator mechanic salary | $91K |
| Operations research analyst salary | $80K |
| Logistician salary | $80K |
| Non-Destructive testing specialist salary | $81K |
| Power plant operator salary | $80K |
| Industrial designer salary | $77K |
| Avionics technician salary | $82K |
| Radio mechanic salary | $78K |
| Boilermaker salary | $75K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)