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What does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary really buy you in Oregon?
Oregon is 6.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Oregon's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 106.6, meaning prices are 6.6% higher the national average. A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earning $69,720 in Oregon has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,403 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $50,270 | $47,157 | $-3,112 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $60,670 | $56,913 | $-3,756 |
| Median (P50) | $69,720 | $65,403 | $-4,316 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $80,540 | $75,553 | $-4,986 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $87,880 | $82,439 | $-5,440 |
While $69,720 sounds high, Oregon's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $65,403. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Oregon's RPP of 106.6 puts it 6.6% above the national baseline cost of living. A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Oregon's RPP, the $69,720 median salary translates to $65,403 in real terms — a 6.2% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators.
Oregon sits at #16 of 50 states for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Oregon ranks #16 out of 50 states for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators take-home pay in Oregon after taxes →
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Oregon earns a median salary of $69,720 per year. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (RPP=106.6), the real purchasing power is $65,403 — a -6.2% difference.
Oregon's cost of living is 6.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Oregon is 106.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Oregon: $69,720 x (100 / 106.6) = $65,403. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators's nominal salary of $69,720 in Oregon has 6.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $65,403. However, Oregon may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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