Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary by State (2024)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 50 states compared · Updated: 2026-03-31
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in All 50 States
Compare Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay across the country. Click any state for the full salary breakdown including percentiles, employment numbers, and related jobs.
| State | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Entry Level | Top Earners | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $82,100 | $86,500 | $52,510 | $123,870 | 11,260 |
| Nevada | $79,140 | $81,990 | $54,380 | $107,490 | N/A |
| Washington | $78,810 | $78,520 | $54,990 | $101,450 | 1,950 |
| Alaska | $76,910 | $78,240 | $49,580 | $103,340 | 570 |
| New Jersey | $75,200 | $75,070 | $49,440 | $97,820 | 2,040 |
| Connecticut | $74,450 | $74,560 | $53,510 | $96,880 | 750 |
| Minnesota | $70,470 | $68,230 | $45,280 | $82,070 | 2,050 |
| Colorado | $68,220 | $69,130 | $48,440 | $89,910 | 2,410 |
| New Hampshire | $66,240 | $65,300 | $49,460 | $72,580 | 930 |
| Hawaii | $65,800 | $64,500 | $50,500 | $81,990 | 660 |
| Massachusetts | $65,620 | $67,650 | $49,660 | $82,150 | 2,480 |
| Oregon | $64,500 | $68,170 | $47,440 | $92,490 | 1,170 |
| Illinois | $63,790 | $69,250 | $45,460 | $98,820 | 3,870 |
| New York | $63,140 | $68,160 | $46,340 | $98,950 | 5,270 |
| Wisconsin | $62,360 | $62,420 | $49,410 | $76,560 | 2,110 |
| Vermont | $61,530 | $63,260 | $47,000 | $77,890 | 340 |
| Arizona | $61,480 | $58,490 | $40,170 | $77,450 | 3,470 |
| Maine | $60,960 | $59,350 | $42,400 | $81,270 | 660 |
| Wyoming | $60,580 | $67,570 | $43,110 | $104,000 | 710 |
| Delaware | $59,960 | $59,860 | $43,800 | $79,320 | 250 |
| Montana | $59,960 | $60,310 | $43,870 | $78,860 | 690 |
| Iowa | $59,400 | $58,580 | $45,650 | $73,960 | 2,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,170 | $61,620 | $47,400 | $80,890 | 5,190 |
| Utah | $59,120 | $60,070 | $42,200 | $79,140 | 1,750 |
| Virginia | $58,920 | $58,960 | $38,480 | $79,180 | 3,390 |
| Maryland | $58,740 | $61,920 | $40,750 | $94,920 | 1,630 |
| Ohio | $58,720 | $57,850 | $42,050 | $75,290 | 5,550 |
| Florida | $58,630 | $61,550 | $39,640 | $89,620 | 7,560 |
| Michigan | $58,470 | $58,340 | $44,880 | $76,380 | 2,720 |
| North Dakota | $58,250 | $61,050 | $49,570 | $80,470 | 660 |
| Nebraska | $57,640 | $56,330 | $38,300 | $73,560 | 1,040 |
| Rhode Island | $57,060 | $59,820 | $49,930 | $79,450 | 360 |
| Indiana | $55,170 | $56,030 | $40,940 | $73,170 | 3,300 |
| South Dakota | $54,090 | $56,830 | $43,000 | $74,220 | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $53,250 | $54,390 | $39,540 | $71,720 | 1,110 |
| Missouri | $52,990 | $53,900 | $37,480 | $69,580 | 2,700 |
| Tennessee | $50,760 | $53,490 | $37,330 | $73,780 | 3,090 |
| North Carolina | $49,710 | $52,800 | $37,460 | $70,750 | 3,420 |
| South Carolina | $49,480 | $52,820 | $36,030 | $72,430 | 2,800 |
| Georgia | $49,370 | $50,930 | $36,070 | $68,080 | 2,880 |
| Alabama | $48,730 | $50,810 | $31,900 | $76,350 | 2,950 |
| Texas | $48,110 | $50,220 | $35,660 | $65,660 | 10,340 |
| Kansas | $47,950 | $48,050 | $33,840 | $64,750 | 1,430 |
| Kentucky | $47,700 | $48,910 | $33,730 | $62,710 | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $46,680 | $51,540 | $34,980 | $77,150 | 2,180 |
| Mississippi | $44,970 | $45,580 | $29,680 | $61,960 | 1,140 |
| West Virginia | $43,960 | $44,150 | $28,490 | $62,390 | 1,210 |
| Oklahoma | $41,380 | $44,230 | $32,700 | $60,190 | 2,750 |
| Louisiana | $38,690 | $43,440 | $29,760 | $61,350 | 2,230 |
| Arkansas | $38,310 | $42,130 | $29,060 | $58,930 | 2,240 |
Data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024. Sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Entry Level = 10th percentile, Top Earners = 90th percentile.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary FAQs
Which state pays Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss at $82,100 per year, according to 2024 BLS data. The top 5 highest paying states are: California ($82,100), Nevada ($79,140), Washington ($78,810), Alaska ($76,910), New Jersey ($75,200).
What is the average Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary nationally?
The average median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary across all 50 states is $58,532 per year. The salary ranges from $38,310 in Arkansas to $82,100 in California — a difference of $43,790.
Which state pays Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operatorss the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary at $38,310 per year. However, cost of living in Arkansas may be lower, so purchasing power could be comparable.