Power Plant Operators pay range in Gainesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,450 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Gainesville earn between $71,240 and $90,450.
- $63K10th
- $71K25th
- $79KMedian
- $90K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,880 | $6,573 | $37.92 |
| Median | $78,890 | $6,574 | $37.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,240 | $5,937 | $34.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $90,450 | $7,538 | $43.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Gainesville vs. Florida and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Gainesville earn 12% less than the Florida average ($89,890) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | $78,880 | $78,890 | $62,540 | $90,450 | 50 |
| Florida | $89,890 | $94,290 | $47,840 | $126,330 | 1,640 |
| United States | $99,790 | $102,040 | $61,790 | $131,940 | 29,320 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Power Plant Operators salary after taxes in Gainesville
On the average salary of $78,880, a single filer in Gainesville takes home about $64,322 a year, or $5,360 a month and $2,474 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Gainesville a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Gainesville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.7), so the average $78,880 buys what about $81,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Gainesville ($47,020). A typical home costs $306,605, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Florida cities
Gainesville ranks 6th of 8 Florida metro areas for this job; Lakeland pays the most ($108,370).
- Lakeland$108,370
- Tampa$106,810
- Port St. Lucie$105,520
- Jacksonville$103,400
- Orlando$89,760
- Gainesville$78,880
- Pensacola$75,930
- Miami$73,000
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 Gainesville: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Gainesville?
$37.92 an hour on average, and $37.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Gainesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Gainesville?
About $64,322 a year ($5,360 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,880. Florida has no state income tax.
Do power plant operators earn more in Gainesville than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($99,790).
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 Gainesville, FL (23540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.84, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.