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How much does a power plant operator make in Knoxville?

$115,900a year

Median yearly pay for power plant operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $55.73 an hour or $9,660 a month.

Hourly
$55.73
Vs. national median
+14%
Rank among cities
22 of 113
Jobs in the area
90
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $105,400Median: $115,900Highest 10%: $119,100
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$105,400$50.66
25th$105,400$50.66
Median$115,900$55.73
75th$119,100$57.25
90th$119,100$57.25

Other cities in Tennessee

Median yearly pay for power plant operators.

Memphis, TN$119,100
Chattanooga, TN$115,900
Nashville, TN$105,400
Power Plant Operator salary in Tennessee Power Plant Operator salary in all states

Related jobs in Knoxville

Same field, median yearly pay.

Power Distributor and Dispatcher$77,440
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$64,300
Tool and Die Maker$63,180
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$59,120
Rolling Machine Setter$58,680
Dental Laboratory Technician$55,340
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter$51,170
Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$50,720
Machinist$49,900
Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker$49,230
Salaries for every job in Knoxville, TN

Frequently asked questions

How much does a power plant operator make an hour in Knoxville?

The median hourly pay in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $55.73 ($115,900 a year).

Do power plant operators make more in Knoxville than the national average?

Yes: $115,900 against $102,000 nationally, 14% more.

How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?

The median in Tennessee is $115,900, so Knoxville pays 0% more.

Where does Knoxville rank for power plant operator pay?

22 of 113 metro areas with data.

How much does a power plant operator make starting out in Knoxville?

The lowest-paid 10% make $105,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $119,100 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.