Texas · SOC 51-8013
Power Plant Operators in Texas
State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)
Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Texas; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.
Median Salary
$102,510
per year in this state
same as
National Median
$102,040
per year nationally
Hourly Rate
$49.28/hr
median hourly
Employment
2,100
jobs in TX
Salary Range in Texas
Annual Salary Distribution
What This Means for Power Plant Operators in Texas
According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Texas ranks #24 of 51 states and territories for Power Plant Operators pay, the middle tier (47th percentile) nationally. Full pay-distribution context, including how Texas compares to the national median, follows below.
This page captures the Power Plant Operators labor market inside Texas using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $102,510 ($49.28/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 2,100 workers in this SOC code (51-8013). Relative to the national median of $102,040, the state estimate is same as. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.
Within Texas, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $55,500, the 25th earns $66,430, the 75th reaches $117,340, and the 90th hits $127,710. The upper boundary is roughly 2.3× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.
Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Texas where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.
Top Paying Jobs in Texas
What this shows Bar width is each occupation's median wage relative to the top-paying job on this list. Hover or tap a row for its exact share of the leader and rank.
Similar Occupations in Texas
Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.
Other states with similar Power Plant Operators pay or employment
Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Texas. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.
Similar median pay
Nearest state medians ($102,510 here).
- Power Plant Operators in Mississippi · $102,400
- Power Plant Operators in Colorado · $102,780
- Power Plant Operators in Delaware · $103,010
- Power Plant Operators in Missouri · $101,900
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (2,100 jobs here; floor 1,000).
- Power Plant Operators in New York · 1,960
- Power Plant Operators in Florida · 1,640
- Power Plant Operators in California · 2,610
- Power Plant Operators in Michigan · 1,220
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 51-8013. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Related federal data for Texas
📊 BLS OEWS - Texas
Federal wage estimates by occupation
📈 BLS Employment Projections
10-year occupation growth, national
🏢 BLS QCEW state series
Quarterly employment and wage program (BLS)
🏛️ OPM FedScope
Federal workforce data by agency and location
⚖️ OSHA Establishment Search
Federal workplace-safety records
🏠 HUD Fair Market Rents
Federal area-level rent benchmarks
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Power Plant Operators make in Texas?
The median annual salary for Power Plant Operators in Texas is $102,510 (same as national avg). Pay ranges from $55,500 (10th percentile) to $127,710 (90th percentile).
How many Power Plant Operators work in Texas?
There are approximately 2,100 Power Plant Operators employed in Texas, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Power Plant Operators in Texas?
The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in Texas is $49.28/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Texas figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.