How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make in Ames?
$61,730a year
Median yearly pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Ames, IA metro area. That is $29.68 an hour or $5,144 a month.
- Hourly
- $29.68
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 138 of 367
- Jobs in the area
- 70
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $44,270Median: $61,730Highest 10%: $88,380
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,270 | $21.28 | |
| 25th | $50,230 | $24.15 | |
| Median | $61,730 | $29.68 | |
| 75th | $74,000 | $35.58 | |
| 90th | $88,380 | $42.49 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators.
| Des Moines, IA | $67,450 |
| Dubuque, IA | $64,420 |
| Waterloo, IA | $63,890 |
| Iowa City, IA | $63,450 |
| Davenport, IA | $63,440 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $62,800 |
| Omaha, NE | $62,660 |
| Sioux City, IA | $59,760 |
Related jobs in Ames
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker | $74,160 |
| Production Worker | $70,690 |
| Coating | $69,090 |
| Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender | $62,300 |
| Inspector | $61,820 |
| Machinist | $60,200 |
| Welder | $58,560 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setter | $52,020 |
| Food Batchmaker | $50,950 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setter | $49,670 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make an hour in Ames?
The median hourly pay in the Ames, IA metro area is $29.68 ($61,730 a year).
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make more in Ames than the national average?
Yes: $61,730 against $60,020 nationally, 3% more.
How does Ames compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $60,990, so Ames pays 1% more.
Where does Ames rank for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator pay?
138 of 367 metro areas with data.
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make starting out in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% make $44,270 or less a year; the top 10% make $88,380 or more.
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.