Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Abilene, TX
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the Abilene, TX metro area earn a median of $46,660 a year ($22.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,040 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $60,020. Pay here is 6% lower than the Texas statewide median of $49,460. There are 1.2 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Abilene, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 25th percentile | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Median | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| 75th percentile | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,040 | $29.35 |
| Average (mean) | $47,400 | $22.79 |
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 | $3,888.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,944.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,794.62 |
| Weekly | $897.31 |
| Hourly | $22.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $61,610 | 850 |
| Waco, TX | $60,930 | 140 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $54,700 | 120 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $52,510 | 170 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $51,940 | 1,980 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,780 | 1,910 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $51,630 | 600 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $50,150 | 100 |
| El Paso, TX | $50,030 | 270 |
| Tyler, TX | $49,860 | 100 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $49,770 | 80 |
| Midland, TX | $47,930 | 220 |
| Lubbock, TX | $47,320 | 80 |
| Victoria, TX | $47,280 | 30 |
| Longview, TX | $47,190 | 130 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $46,170 | 190 |
| Laredo, TX | $45,150 | 70 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $44,840 | 130 |
| Amarillo, TX | $43,220 | 80 |
| San Angelo, TX | $42,640 | 70 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $41,470 | 180 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $39,260 | 40 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,800 | 330 |
Highest-paying states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,770 |
| Nevada | $81,440 |
| Washington | $80,800 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 |
| Colorado | $74,200 |
| Oregon | $69,720 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 |
| Illinois | $67,810 |
See Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Abilene, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $61,190 | $29.42 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,470 | $18.01 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $28,960 | $13.93 |
| Baker | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Machinist | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $35,180 | $16.92 |
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 Abilene, TX?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Abilene, TX metro area is $46,660 a year, or $22.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Abilene, TX?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Abilene, TX metro area earn at least $61,040 a year. The top 25% earn $49,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Abilene, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,900 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $43,240 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Abilene, TX?
About 90 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in the Abilene, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.