Power Plant Operators pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,500 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in Louisville earn between $87,350 and $112,150.
- $74K10th
- $87K25th
- $104KMedian
- $112K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,580 | $8,215 | $47.39 |
| Median | $104,120 | $8,677 | $50.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $87,350 | $7,279 | $42.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,150 | $9,346 | $53.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Power plant operators in Louisville earn 5% more than the Kentucky average ($93,970) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,790). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $102,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $98,580 | $104,120 | $74,120 | $118,500 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $93,970 | $93,400 | $66,830 | $118,400 | 690 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $98,580, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $72,680 a year, or $6,057 a month and $2,795 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $75,254 | $6,271 |
| Working in KY | $72,680 | $6,057 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $98,580 buys what about $105,916 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$98,580
- Lexington$83,100
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
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Power Plant Operators salary in Louisville: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in Louisville?
$47.39 an hour on average, and $50.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $87,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in Louisville?
About $72,680 a year ($6,057 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,580. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do power plant operators earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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