Power Plant Operators pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,850 or more. The middle half of power plant operators in New Orleans earn between $101,170 and $123,910.
- $88K10th
- $101K25th
- $104KMedian
- $124K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,060 | $9,088 | $52.43 |
| Median | $104,440 | $8,703 | $50.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,170 | $8,431 | $48.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,910 | $10,326 | $59.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Power Plant Operators pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Power plant operators in New Orleans earn 12% more than the Louisiana average ($97,610) and 9% more than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $109,060 | $104,440 | $88,490 | $134,850 | 120 |
| Louisiana | $97,610 | $101,170 | $62,410 | $123,910 | 370 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $109,060, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $82,668 a year, or $6,889 a month and $3,180 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for power plant operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $109,060 buys what about $117,779 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Power Plant Operators salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 2 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- New Orleans$109,060
- Alexandria$96,120
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 New Orleans: questions
How much do power plant operators make an hour in New Orleans?
$52.43 an hour on average, and $50.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level power plant operators salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the power plant operators take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $82,668 a year ($6,889 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,060.
Do power plant operators earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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