Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in Washington
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington earn a median of $80,800 a year ($38.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,270 for the top 10%. That is 35% higher than the national median of $60,020. Washington ranks 3rd of 50 states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.57 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $82,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,720 | $27.75 |
| 25th percentile | $67,690 | $32.54 |
| Median | $80,800 | $38.85 |
| 75th percentile | $99,940 | $48.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,270 | $51.09 |
| Average (mean) | $82,770 | $39.80 |
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 | $6,733.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,366.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,107.69 |
| Weekly | $1,553.85 |
| Hourly | $38.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $99,010 | 830 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $88,270 | 70 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 | 40 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $87,310 | 90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,860 | 450 |
| Bellingham, WA | $81,430 | 80 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $81,240 | 130 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $80,750 | 80 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $79,100 | 90 |
| Yakima, WA | $75,290 | 90 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $64,420 | 30 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $61,830 | 70 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $103,620 | $49.82 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $91,530 | $44.00 |
| Power Plant Operator | $131,620 | $63.28 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $144,710 | $69.57 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $88,730 | $42.66 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Machinist | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| Baker | $46,140 | $22.18 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Washington is $80,800 a year, or $38.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Washington?
The top 10% of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Washington earn at least $106,270 a year. The top 25% earn $99,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,720 a year, and a quarter of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $67,690 or less.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in Washington?
About 2,030 water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.