Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Delaware
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Delaware earn a median of $64,940 a year ($31.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,360 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $60,020. Delaware ranks 12th of 50 states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay. There are 0.70 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $66,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| 25th percentile | $54,960 | $26.43 |
| Median | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| 75th percentile | $76,240 | $36.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,360 | $40.56 |
| Average (mean) | $66,310 | $31.88 |
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 | $5,411.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,705.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,497.69 |
| Weekly | $1,248.85 |
| Hourly | $31.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in Delaware at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,680 | 1,650 |
| Dover, DE | $62,410 | 80 |
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.
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $103,010 | $49.53 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,770 | $21.04 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $63,200 | $30.39 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,190 | $27.50 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,730 | $16.22 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,270 | $27.54 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Food Batchmaker | $37,220 | $17.90 |
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 Delaware?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Delaware is $64,940 a year, or $31.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Delaware?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Delaware earn at least $84,360 a year. The top 25% earn $76,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,160 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $54,960 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Delaware?
About 340 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.