Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Kankakee, IL
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the Kankakee, IL metro area earn a median of $59,870 a year ($28.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,610 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $60,020. Pay here is 12% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $67,810. There are 1.8 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,660, close to the median.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Kankakee, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| 25th percentile | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Median | $59,870 | $28.78 |
| 75th percentile | $74,520 | $35.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,610 | $38.28 |
| Average (mean) | $59,660 | $28.68 |
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 | $4,989.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,494.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,302.69 |
| Weekly | $1,151.35 |
| Hourly | $28.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $79,290 | 1,770 |
| Bloomington, IL | $79,220 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | $77,830 | 90 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $63,440 | 220 |
| Decatur, IL | $62,150 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,720 | 90 |
| Peoria, IL | $60,380 | 120 |
| Springfield, IL | $58,990 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,850 | 1,220 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $52,160 | 70 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $50,960 | 60 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kankakee, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,480 | $21.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,120 | $18.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,240 | $35.69 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,930 | $23.53 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| Baker | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Machinist | $47,930 | $23.05 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,480 | $19.46 |
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 Kankakee, IL?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Kankakee, IL metro area is $59,870 a year, or $28.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Kankakee, IL?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Kankakee, IL metro area earn at least $79,610 a year. The top 25% earn $74,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Kankakee, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,120 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $48,120 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Kankakee, IL?
About 70 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in the Kankakee, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.