Power Plant Operators pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,660 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Birmingham earn between $80,350 and $112,280.
- $79K10th
- $80K25th
- $107KMedian
- $112K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,610 | $8,218 | $47.41 |
| Median | $106,990 | $8,916 | $51.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,350 | $6,696 | $38.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,280 | $9,357 | $53.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Power Plant Operators salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $98,610, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $74,155 a year, or $6,180 a month and $2,852 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $98,610 buys what about $107,601 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 3rd of 3 Alabama metro areas for this job; Decatur pays the most ($105,510).
- Decatur$105,510
- Montgomery$100,010
- Birmingham$98,610
Highest-paying cities for power plant operators
Wenatchee, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,930).
- Wenatchee, WA$150,930
- Sacramento, CA$135,310
- Seattle, WA$132,410
- Fresno, CA$131,280
- San Francisco, CA$130,890
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Power Plant Operators salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Birmingham?
$47.41 an hour on average, and $51.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $74,155 a year ($6,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,610. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do power plant operators earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($102,474).
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 51-8013; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.84, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.