What does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary really buy you in South Carolina?
South Carolina is 6.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
South Carolina's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 93.6, meaning prices are 6.4% lower the national average. A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earning $49,480 in South Carolina has the equivalent purchasing power of $52,863 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,030 | $38,493 | +$2,463 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $42,730 | $45,651 | +$2,921 |
| Median (P50) | $49,480 | $52,863 | +$3,383 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,150 | $66,399 | +$4,249 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $72,430 | $77,382 | +$4,952 |
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Carolina earns $49,480 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $52,863 in an average-cost state. This makes South Carolina one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Carolina ranks #41 out of 50 states for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Carolina earns a median salary of $49,480 per year. After adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (RPP=93.6), the real purchasing power is $52,863 — a +6.8% difference.
South Carolina's cost of living is 6.4% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for South Carolina is 93.6 (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 South Carolina: $49,480 x (100 / 93.6) = $52,863. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Carolina enjoys 6.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.