Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Florida
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Florida earn a median of $59,030 a year ($28.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,280 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $60,020. Florida ranks 31st of 50 states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay. There are 0.75 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| 25th percentile | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Median | $59,030 | $28.38 |
| 75th percentile | $72,830 | $35.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,280 | $40.52 |
| Average (mean) | $61,180 | $29.41 |
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 | $4,919.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,459.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,270.38 |
| Weekly | $1,135.19 |
| Hourly | $28.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida 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 Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $77,150 | 460 |
| Gainesville, FL | $63,860 | 90 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $63,000 | 150 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,960 | 1,610 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $61,290 | 180 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $60,890 | 80 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $59,060 | 90 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $58,590 | 380 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,590 | 1,330 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $58,350 | 370 |
| Ocala, FL | $56,580 | 60 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $55,170 | 110 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $53,600 | 150 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $52,200 | 770 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $51,820 | 270 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $51,030 | 150 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $49,640 | 290 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $49,540 | 160 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $48,070 | 230 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $46,540 | 100 |
| Sebring, FL | $44,420 | 40 |
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 Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $94,290 | $45.33 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $50,910 | $24.47 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $63,480 | $30.52 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $65,040 | $31.27 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $128,830 | $61.94 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,340 | $15.55 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| Baker | $35,870 | $17.24 |
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 Florida?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Florida is $59,030 a year, or $28.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Florida?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Florida earn at least $84,280 a year. The top 25% earn $72,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,630 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $47,580 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Florida?
About 7,440 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.