How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $28.86 an hour or $5,002 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.86
- Average (mean)
- $62,540
- Jobs
- 128,490
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,110 | $18.80 | |
| 25th | $48,040 | $23.10 | |
| Median | $60,020 | $28.86 | |
| 75th | $74,780 | $35.95 | |
| 90th | $91,060 | $43.78 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| 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 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 |
| Delaware | $64,940 |
| New York | $63,990 |
| Vermont | $63,640 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 |
| New Hampshire | $62,940 |
| Maine | $61,870 |
| Maryland | $61,870 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 |
| Arizona | $61,340 |
| Utah | $61,290 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 |
| Iowa | $60,990 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 |
| Alaska | $60,160 |
| Virginia | $59,420 |
| Michigan | $59,270 |
| Ohio | $59,170 |
| Florida | $59,030 |
| Montana | $58,040 |
| Indiana | $53,540 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 |
| Idaho | $52,210 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 |
| Alabama | $51,870 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 |
| Missouri | $49,940 |
| Texas | $49,460 |
| Georgia | $48,930 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 |
| Kansas | $46,780 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $125,200 |
| San Jose, CA | $108,200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,200 |
| Napa, CA | $101,500 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $99,840 |
| Seattle, WA | $99,010 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $94,060 |
| Olympia, WA | $88,270 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $87,310 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $85,960 |
| Sacramento, CA | $85,950 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $84,450 |
| Portland, OR | $83,860 |
| New York, NY | $83,320 |
In other countries
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator belongs to the international group "Incinerator and water treatment plant operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator$122,900
- Power Distributor and Dispatcher$106,700
- Power Plant Operator$102,000
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$78,620
- Chemical Plant and System Operator$78,120
- Gas Plant Operator$87,820
- Petroleum Pump System Operator$96,710
- Plant and System Operator$62,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $28.86 ($60,020 a year).
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make a month?
About $5,002 a month before tax, based on a median of $60,020 a year.
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,110 or less a year ($18.80 an hour); the top 10% make $91,060 or more.
Which state pays water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators the most?
California, with a median of $81,770 a year, followed by Nevada ($81,440) and Washington ($80,800).
Which city pays water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $125,200 a year.
How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators are there in the United States?
About 128,490 people work as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.