Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Hourly Wage in Tennessee (2024)

The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee is $23.32/hour, based on 2024 BLS data.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Tennessee hourly wage data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$17.43
/hour
Median (P50)
$23.32
/hour
Senior (P90)
$32.43
/hour

Annual Salary Equivalent

$48,500
Based on 2,080 work hours/year (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). View annual salary page.

Tennessee vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$17.43
National: $19.2
-9.2%
Median (P50)
$23.32
National: $26.73
-12.8%
Senior (P90)
$32.43
National: $36.8
-11.9%

Hourly Wage Breakdown by Percentile

Percentile Hourly Rate Weekly (×40h) Monthly (×173.3h) Annual (×2,080h)
Entry-Level (P10) $17.43 $697 $3022 $36,260
Q1 (P25) $20.04 $802 $3473 $41,680
Median (P50) $23.32 $933 $4042 $48,500
Q3 (P75) $28.64 $1146 $4964 $59,570
Senior (P90) $32.43 $1297 $5621 $67,450

Note: Weekly = hourly × 40 hours. Monthly = hourly × 173.3 hours (avg). Annual = hourly × 2,080 hours.

Highest-Paying States for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

#1
$38.59
$38.59/hr
+44.4%
#2
$38.04
$38.04/hr
+42.3%
#3
$37.65
$37.65/hr
+40.9%
#4
$37.19
$37.19/hr
+39.1%
#5
$35.87
$35.87/hr
+34.2%
#6
$33.65
$33.65/hr
+25.9%
#7
$33.21
$33.21/hr
+24.2%
#8
$31.87
$31.87/hr
+19.2%
#9
$31.21
$31.21/hr
+16.8%
#10
$30.93
$30.93/hr
+15.7%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee is $23.32/hour (2024 BLS data). This equals approximately $48,500.0 per year based on 2,080 work hours.

How does Tennessee Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators hourly pay compare to national average?

The median hourly rate for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee is $23.32/hr compared to the national average of $26.73/hr — lower by $3.41/hr.

What is the entry-level hourly rate for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee?

Entry-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals in Tennessee earn approximately $17.43/hour (10th percentile), which equals $36,260.0/year. Senior-level professionals earn $32.43/hour.

How much does a senior Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators make per hour in Tennessee?

Senior-level Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators professionals in Tennessee (90th percentile) earn approximately $32.43/hour, or $67,450.0/year.

How is hourly wage calculated from annual salary?

Hourly wages are calculated by dividing annual salary by 2,080 hours (52 weeks × 40 hours/week). This is the standard full-time conversion used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Related Salary Pages

Data Source

Hourly wage data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects median and percentile wages for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (SOC 518031) in Tennessee.

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