Power Plant Operators Hourly Wage in South Dakota (2024)

The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in South Dakota is $50.15/hour, based on 2024 BLS data.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • South Dakota hourly wage data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$32.07
/hour
Median (P50)
$50.15
/hour
Senior (P90)
$59.3
/hour

Annual Salary Equivalent

$104,320
Based on 2,080 work hours/year (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). View annual salary page.

South Dakota vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$32.07
National: $28.3
+13.3%
Median (P50)
$50.15
National: $45.12
+11.1%
Senior (P90)
$59.3
National: $56.9
+4.2%

Hourly Wage Breakdown by Percentile

Percentile Hourly Rate Weekly (×40h) Monthly (×173.3h) Annual (×2,080h)
Entry-Level (P10) $32.07 $1283 $5559 $66,710
Q1 (P25) $37.04 $1482 $6421 $77,050
Median (P50) $50.15 $2006 $8693 $104,320
Q3 (P75) $50.15 $2006 $8693 $104,320
Senior (P90) $59.3 $2372 $10278 $123,340

Note: Weekly = hourly × 40 hours. Monthly = hourly × 173.3 hours (avg). Annual = hourly × 2,080 hours.

Highest-Paying States for Power Plant Operators

#1
$57.01
$57.01/hr
+26.4%
#2
$55.51
$55.51/hr
+23.0%
#3
$52.2
$52.2/hr
+15.7%
#4
$51.74
$51.74/hr
+14.7%
#5
$51.03
$51.03/hr
+13.1%
#6
$50.33
$50.33/hr
+11.5%
#7
$50.15
$50.15/hr
+11.1%
#8
$49.92
$49.92/hr
+10.6%
#9
$49.92
$49.92/hr
+10.6%
#10
$49.87
$49.87/hr
+10.5%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in South Dakota?

The median hourly wage for Power Plant Operators in South Dakota is $50.15/hour (2024 BLS data). This equals approximately $104,320.0 per year based on 2,080 work hours.

How does South Dakota Power Plant Operators hourly pay compare to national average?

The median hourly rate for Power Plant Operators in South Dakota is $50.15/hr compared to the national average of $45.12/hr — higher by $5.03/hr.

What is the entry-level hourly rate for Power Plant Operators in South Dakota?

Entry-level Power Plant Operators professionals in South Dakota earn approximately $32.07/hour (10th percentile), which equals $66,710.0/year. Senior-level professionals earn $59.3/hour.

How much does a senior Power Plant Operators make per hour in South Dakota?

Senior-level Power Plant Operators professionals in South Dakota (90th percentile) earn approximately $59.3/hour, or $123,340.0/year.

How is hourly wage calculated from annual salary?

Hourly wages are calculated by dividing annual salary by 2,080 hours (52 weeks × 40 hours/week). This is the standard full-time conversion used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Related Salary Pages

Data Source

Hourly wage data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects median and percentile wages for Power Plant Operators (SOC 518013) in South Dakota.

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