Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
Production Occupations · 128K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$60,020
Median hourly
$29
Average annual
$62,540
Typical range
$39,110–$91,060
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $60,020 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $29 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater..
Most earn between $39,110 and $91,060 a year. There are roughly 128K people employed as water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators.
- Hourly
- $28.86
- Daily
- $231
- Weekly
- $1,154
- Bi-weekly
- $2,308
- Monthly
- $5,002
- Annual
- $60,020
$60,020 a year is around the 50th percentile for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss. The median is $60,020.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$81,770
- 2Nevada$81,440
- 3Washington$80,800
- 4Connecticut$78,820
- 5New Jersey$78,760
- 6Minnesota$74,670
- 7Colorado$74,200
- 8Oregon$69,720
- 9Massachusetts$68,550
- 10Illinois$67,810
- 11Hawaii$65,560
- 12Delaware$64,940
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$125,160
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$108,190
- 3Vallejo, CA$106,150
- 4Napa, CA$101,540
- 5Fairbanks-College, AK$99,840
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,010
- 7Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$94,060
- 8Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$88,270
- 9Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$87,840
- 10Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$87,310
- 11Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$85,960
- 12Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$85,950
Related job titles
Employers advertise Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators roles under these titles.
- Basin Tender
- Biosolids Management Technician
- Clarifying Plant Operator
- Disposal Operator
- Disposal Plant Operator
- Drinking Water Technician
- Filter Tender
- Filterer
- Filtration Plant Operator
- Industrial Waste Treatment Technician
- Lead Sewage Plant Operator
- Liquid Waste Treatment Plant Operator
- On-Site Wastewater Systems Technician
- Plant Operator
- Purification Operator
- Relief Operator
Related occupations
- Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,120
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,610
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$58,040
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$96,710
- Gas Plant Operators$87,820
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,620
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,320
What a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators does
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is $60,020 ($29 per hour). Pay ranges from about $39,110 at the 10th percentile to $91,060 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $62,540, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $81,770.
- Is Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 128K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators do?
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.; Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.; Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power..