Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
New Mexico employs 2,110 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals, below the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • New Mexico employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19
The location quotient (LQ) of 0.81 indicates that New Mexico has an average concentration of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals, similar to the national average employment distribution.
Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.
The average annual salary for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New Mexico is $53,870. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
New Mexico employs approximately 2,110 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks New Mexico for this occupation nationwide.
New Mexico has average or below-average concentration of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators jobs (LQ: 0.81). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New Mexico is $53870/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.
The top state for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators employment is California with 11,630 jobs.
Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for New Mexico's largest cities.
Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at New Mexico's leading institutions.
Compare Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.
Drill deeper into Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay, hiring, and education data for New Mexico.
Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (SOC 518031) in New Mexico.