How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make in Waterloo?
Median yearly pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area. That is $30.72 an hour or $5,324 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.72
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 104 of 367
- Jobs in the area
- 120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,310 | $24.19 | |
| 25th | $55,590 | $26.73 | |
| Median | $63,890 | $30.72 | |
| 75th | $70,160 | $33.73 | |
| 90th | $75,730 | $36.41 |
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 |
| Iowa City, IA | $63,450 |
| Davenport, IA | $63,440 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $62,800 |
| Omaha, NE | $62,660 |
| Ames, IA | $61,730 |
| Sioux City, IA | $59,760 |
Related jobs in Waterloo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker | $75,370 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $65,590 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $60,330 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender | $60,020 |
| Machinist | $58,100 |
| Cleaning | $56,100 |
| Molding | $55,550 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremaker | $54,920 |
| Welding | $54,470 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make an hour in Waterloo?
The median hourly pay in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $30.72 ($63,890 a year).
Do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make more in Waterloo than the national average?
Yes: $63,890 against $60,020 nationally, 6% more.
How does Waterloo compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $60,990, so Waterloo pays 5% more.
Where does Waterloo rank for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator pay?
104 of 367 metro areas with data.
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator make starting out in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $50,310 or less a year; the top 10% make $75,730 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.