Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators actually take home in North Carolina?
4.5% flat rate — 20.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earning $51,680 in North Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $51,680 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$4,217 | 8.2% |
| North Carolina State Income Tax | -$2,325 | 4.5% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,204 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$749 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$10,496 | 20.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $41,183 | 79.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,860 | -$7,159 | $30,700 | 18.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $45,850 | -$9,088 | $36,761 | 19.8% |
| Median (P50) | $51,680 | -$10,496 | $41,183 | 20.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,740 | -$12,926 | $48,813 | 20.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $75,600 | -$17,658 | $57,941 | 23.4% |
After federal income tax ($4,217), state tax ($2,325), and FICA ($3,953), a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina takes home $41,183 per year — or $3,431 per month. The effective tax rate of 20.3% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 20.3%, a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina keeps $41,183 of $51,680 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
North Carolina applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary that contributes $2,326 to the 4.5% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary is $4,218 (40%), but combined state ($2,326, 22%) + FICA ($3,954, 38%) make up the other 60% of the bill.
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $43,509 — only $2,326 (5.6%) more than in North Carolina.
North Carolina sits near the bottom (#38 of 50) for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $41,183 net/year works out to $3,432/month or $1,584/bi-weekly for this Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
North Carolina ranks #38 out of 50 states for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators after-tax take-home pay.
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina earning a median salary of $51,680 will take home approximately $41,183 per year after federal income tax ($4,217), state income tax ($2,325), and FICA ($3,953). That is $3,431 per month or $1,583 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina is 20.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.2%, North Carolina state tax 4.5%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
North Carolina has a 4.5% flat rate. On a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators's median salary of $51,680, the state income tax amounts to $2,325 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.5%.
After all taxes, a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina takes home approximately $3,431 per month, or about $19.80 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $51,680 for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), North Carolina state income tax (4.5% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $41,183/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR