Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in the U.S.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $60,020 a year ($28.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 128,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,060 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $62,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 25th percentile | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Median | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| 75th percentile | $74,780 | $35.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,060 | $43.78 |
| Average (mean) | $62,540 | $30.07 |
Half of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,001.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,500.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,308.46 |
| Weekly | $1,154.23 |
| Hourly | $28.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,020 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $81,770 | 11,630 |
| Nevada | $81,440 | n/a |
| Washington | $80,800 | 2,030 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 | 980 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 | 2,290 |
| Colorado | $74,200 | 2,620 |
| Oregon | $69,720 | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $67,810 | 3,500 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 | 610 |
| Delaware | $64,940 | 340 |
| New York | $63,990 | 5,300 |
| Vermont | $63,640 | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 | 2,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | 4,660 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 | 500 |
| New Hampshire | $62,940 | 510 |
| Maine | $61,870 | 710 |
| Maryland | $61,870 | 1,770 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 | 420 |
| Arizona | $61,340 | 3,950 |
| Utah | $61,290 | 1,900 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 | 740 |
| Iowa | $60,990 | 2,370 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 | 550 |
| Alaska | $60,160 | 750 |
| Virginia | $59,420 | 3,460 |
| Michigan | $59,270 | 3,400 |
| Ohio | $59,170 | 5,870 |
| Florida | $59,030 | 7,440 |
| Montana | $58,040 | 690 |
| Indiana | $53,540 | 3,140 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $52,210 | 1,480 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 | 2,650 |
| Alabama | $51,870 | 2,770 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 | 3,620 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 | 3,140 |
| Missouri | $49,940 | 3,000 |
| Texas | $49,460 | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $48,930 | 3,310 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 | 2,110 |
| Virgin Islands | $48,030 | 30 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 | 1,100 |
| Kansas | $46,780 | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 | 2,450 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 | 2,280 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 | 2,540 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 | 2,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,220 | 1,030 |
Best-paying metro areas for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,160 | 1,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | 460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | 200 |
| Napa, CA | $101,540 | 100 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $99,840 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $99,010 | 830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | 80 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $88,270 | 70 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 | 40 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $87,310 | 90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,960 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $85,950 | 1,010 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $84,450 | 300 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,860 | 450 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,320 | 3,690 |
Metro areas with the most water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,690 | $83,320 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,570 | $63,660 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,230 | $82,460 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,980 | $51,940 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,910 | $51,780 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,770 | $79,290 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,650 | $66,680 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,630 | $73,600 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,610 | $62,960 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,580 | $82,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,460 | $52,160 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,460 | $73,330 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,330 | $58,590 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,220 | $57,850 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,160 | $61,760 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 |
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $122,890 | $59.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Machinist | $58,750 | $28.24 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the U.S. is $60,020 a year, or $28.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the U.S. earn at least $91,060 a year. The top 25% earn $74,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,110 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $48,040 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in the U.S.?
About 128,490 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.