How much does a water plant operator make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $5,747 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $4,756
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.3 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 142 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $100,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $94,230 |
| 2. Iceland estimate | $76,560 |
| 3. Luxembourg estimate | $73,320 |
| 4. Norway estimate | $69,510 |
| 5. United States | $68,970 |
| 6. Denmark estimate | $68,900 |
| 142. Malawi estimate | $409 |
Similar jobs
Technicians and associate professionals
- Power plant operator$79,440
- Chemical operator$78,120
- Process operator$90,010
- Metal furnace operator$54,430
- Pulp control worker$68,120
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| Connecticut | $82,570 |
| Wyoming | $82,160 |
| New Jersey | $80,330 |
| District of Columbia | $80,030 |
| Washington | $79,490 |
| Rhode Island | $78,950 |
| Massachusetts | $78,120 |
| Minnesota | $78,040 |
| California | $77,410 |
| New Hampshire | $76,500 |
See all 51 states
| Delaware | $76,410 |
| Colorado | $75,730 |
| New York | $75,300 |
| Maine | $75,090 |
| Maryland | $75,010 |
| Illinois | $74,470 |
| Wisconsin | $73,830 |
| South Carolina | $73,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,890 |
| North Dakota | $72,660 |
| Vermont | $72,660 |
| Iowa | $72,160 |
| Oregon | $71,910 |
| Indiana | $71,790 |
| Alaska | $71,350 |
| Virginia | $71,010 |
| Arizona | $70,950 |
| Nebraska | $70,660 |
| Michigan | $70,660 |
| Alabama | $70,520 |
| Hawaii | $70,130 |
| Louisiana | $70,100 |
| Ohio | $70,070 |
| Kansas | $69,980 |
| Utah | $69,300 |
| Missouri | $68,970 |
| Nevada | $68,430 |
| Kentucky | $68,240 |
| North Carolina | $66,930 |
| Montana | $66,920 |
| Georgia | $66,710 |
| Texas | $66,090 |
| Mississippi | $65,950 |
| Idaho | $65,690 |
| South Dakota | $65,550 |
| Oklahoma | $65,280 |
| West Virginia | $63,590 |
| Tennessee | $63,170 |
| Florida | $62,660 |
| Arkansas | $60,060 |
| New Mexico | $57,140 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker | $74,450 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator | $60,020 |
| Plant and System Operator | $62,470 |
| Pump Operator | $61,770 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a water plant operator make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $5,747 a month, $68,970 a year.
How much does a water plant operator make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $44,080 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $102,000.
Which country pays a water plant operator the most?
United States, with a median of $68,970 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a water plant operator the most?
Connecticut, with a median of $82,570 a year.
Does a water plant operator make more in the United States or in Germany?
In the United States: $68,970 a year against $62,870 in Germany, 1.1 times more.
Who makes more, a water plant operator or a power plant operator?
A power plant operator: $79,440 a year against $68,970 for a water plant operator, 1.2 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate