Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the U.S. is $60,020 ($28.86 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $60,020
- Mean annual wage
- $62,540
- Median hourly wage
- $28.86
- Employment
- 128,490
128,490 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 25th percentile | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Median (50th) | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| 75th percentile | $74,780 | $35.95 |
| 90th percentile | $91,060 | $43.78 |
Highest-paying states for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $81,770 | 11,630 |
| Nevada | $81,440 | — |
| Washington | $80,800 | 2,030 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 | 980 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 | 2,290 |
| Colorado | $74,200 | 2,620 |
| Oregon | $69,720 | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $67,810 | 3,500 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $44,320 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $45,430 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $45,890 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $46,210 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $46,480 median annual wage
About this occupation
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Typical tasks
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 4.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 28.9% |
| Associate's degree | 11.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 12.5% |
| Master's degree | 2.0% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.