Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Amarillo, TX
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the Amarillo, TX metro area earn a median of $43,220 a year ($20.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,820 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $60,020. Pay here is 13% lower than the Texas statewide median of $49,460. There are 0.63 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $44,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Amarillo, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,140 | $15.45 |
| 25th percentile | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| Median | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| 75th percentile | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Average (mean) | $44,100 | $21.20 |
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 | $3,601.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,800.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,662.31 |
| Weekly | $831.15 |
| Hourly | $20.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,220 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 |
| Abilene, TX | $46,660 | 90 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $46,170 | 190 |
| Laredo, TX | $45,150 | 70 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $44,840 | 130 |
| 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 Amarillo, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,700 | $36.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $53,970 | $25.95 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,460 | $26.66 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,110 | $20.73 |
| Machinist | $41,900 | $20.14 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $48,370 | $23.26 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $28,530 | $13.72 |
| Baker | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Food Batchmaker | $35,560 | $17.09 |
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 Amarillo, TX?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Amarillo, TX metro area is $43,220 a year, or $20.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Amarillo, TX?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Amarillo, TX metro area earn at least $61,820 a year. The top 25% earn $47,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Amarillo, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,140 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $38,780 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Amarillo, TX?
About 80 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in the Amarillo, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.