Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Mean (average) | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| 90th percentile | $91,060 | $43.78 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,870 | $35,100 | $79,950 | 2,770 | 1.59 |
| Alaska | $60,160 | $35,200 | $99,840 | 750 | 2.79 |
| Arizona | $61,340 | $46,690 | $80,040 | 3,950 | 1.48 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 | $31,480 | $61,780 | 2,010 | 1.87 |
| California | $81,770 | $56,030 | $123,380 | 11,630 | 0.77 |
| Colorado | $74,200 | $50,130 | $95,730 | 2,620 | 1.1 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 | $60,900 | $98,850 | 980 | 0.7 |
| Delaware | $64,940 | $48,160 | $84,360 | 340 | 0.85 |
| Florida | $59,030 | $39,630 | $84,280 | 7,440 | 0.91 |
| Georgia | $48,930 | $36,970 | $67,520 | 3,310 | 0.82 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 | $46,900 | $82,680 | 610 | 1.17 |
| Idaho | $52,210 | $40,820 | $74,950 | 1,480 | 2.08 |
| Illinois | $67,810 | $42,240 | $103,690 | 3,500 | 0.69 |
| Indiana | $53,540 | $40,590 | $75,290 | 3,140 | 1.19 |
| Iowa | $60,990 | $46,880 | $76,040 | 2,370 | 1.84 |
| Kansas | $46,780 | $35,870 | $66,800 | 1,560 | 1.31 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 | $33,210 | $63,740 | 2,540 | 1.54 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 | $31,440 | $63,870 | 2,450 | 1.53 |
| Maine | $61,870 | $49,220 | $84,730 | 710 | 1.34 |
| Maryland | $61,870 | $44,990 | $88,970 | 1,770 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 | $50,980 | $91,390 | 2,510 | 0.84 |
| Michigan | $59,270 | $46,710 | $75,910 | 3,400 | 0.93 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 | $52,130 | $87,250 | 2,290 | 0.94 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 | $35,230 | $64,130 | 1,150 | 1.2 |
| Missouri | $49,940 | $38,600 | $64,930 | 3,000 | 1.24 |
| Montana | $58,040 | $37,320 | $81,420 | 690 | 1.64 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 | $44,620 | $76,250 | 740 | 0.88 |
| Nevada | $81,440 | $56,110 | $101,820 | ||
| New Hampshire | $62,940 | $49,170 | $81,290 | 510 | 0.89 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 | $51,050 | $99,240 | 2,500 | 0.71 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 | $36,110 | $80,090 | 2,110 | 2.93 |
| New York | $63,990 | $48,350 | $102,260 | 5,300 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 | $37,860 | $75,600 | 3,620 | 0.89 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 | $47,250 | $78,940 | 550 | 1.56 |
| Ohio | $59,170 | $45,350 | $75,200 | 5,870 | 1.28 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 | $35,250 | $63,040 | 2,280 | 1.62 |
| Oregon | $69,720 | $50,270 | $87,880 | 1,240 | 0.77 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 | $45,670 | $80,480 | 4,660 | 0.93 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,220 | $21,840 | $40,290 | 1,030 | 1.33 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 | $49,150 | $84,640 | 420 | 1.01 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 | $39,060 | $76,850 | 2,650 | 1.39 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 | $43,890 | $73,170 | 1,060 | 2.82 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 | $35,430 | $75,540 | 3,140 | 1.16 |
| Texas | $49,460 | $36,550 | $70,270 | 10,520 | 0.91 |
| Utah | $61,290 | $45,710 | $79,860 | 1,900 | 1.33 |
| Vermont | $63,640 | $50,820 | $81,100 | 320 | 1.28 |
| Virgin Islands | $48,030 | $36,500 | $72,840 | 30 | 1.17 |
| Virginia | $59,420 | $38,590 | $79,470 | 3,460 | 1.02 |
| Washington | $80,800 | $57,720 | $106,270 | 2,030 | 0.69 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 | $35,360 | $75,240 | 1,100 | 1.9 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 | $50,340 | $78,790 | 2,230 | 0.92 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 | $46,960 | $107,370 | 500 | 2.17 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 10,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data logging software
- Database software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Human machine interface HMI software
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Operational Data Store ODS software
- Records management software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Timekeeping software
- Wastewater expert control systems
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Plant Operator, Process Operator (Process Op), Relief Operator, Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator), Wastewater Operator (WW Operator), Wastewater Technician (Wastewater Tech), Water Control Dispatcher, Water Plant Operator, Water Treatment Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make?
The national median annual wage for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators was $60,020 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,110 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $91,060. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators to change -5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 10,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($81,770), Nevada ($81,440), Washington ($80,800). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.