What does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earning $78,810 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,775 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $54,990 | $50,081 | $-4,908 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,880 | $59,089 | $-5,790 |
| Median (P50) | $78,810 | $71,775 | $-7,034 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $92,520 | $84,262 | $-8,257 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $101,450 | $92,395 | $-9,054 |
While $78,810 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $71,775. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #5 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 Washington earns a median salary of $78,810 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $71,775 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (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 Washington: $78,810 x (100 / 109.8) = $71,775. 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 $78,810 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $71,775. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.