Gas Plant Operators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,290 or more. The middle half of gas plant operators in Columbia earn between $50,690 and $82,830.
- $49K10th
- $51K25th
- $82KMedian
- $83K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,820 | $5,735 | $33.09 |
| Median | $81,960 | $6,830 | $39.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,690 | $4,224 | $24.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,830 | $6,902 | $39.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Gas Plant Operators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Gas plant operators in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($69,080) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($88,710). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $87,820.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $68,820 | $81,960 | $49,060 | $84,290 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $69,080 | $67,580 | $45,870 | $89,960 | 280 |
| United States | $88,710 | $87,820 | $61,350 | $115,520 | 18,030 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Gas Plant Operators salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $68,820, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $54,997 a year, or $4,583 a month and $2,115 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for gas plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $68,820 buys what about $73,477 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Gas Plant Operators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($73,010).
- Spartanburg$73,010
- Columbia$68,820
- Greenville$63,350
Highest-paying cities for gas plant operators
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,110).
- Los Angeles, CA$121,110
- New York, NY$115,310
- Riverside, CA$114,070
- Portland, OR$110,150
- Detroit, MI$103,970
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Gas Plant Operators salary in Columbia: questions
How much do gas plant operators make an hour in Columbia?
$33.09 an hour on average, and $39.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level gas plant operators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the gas plant operators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $54,997 a year ($4,583 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,820.
Do gas plant operators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($88,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8092; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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