Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in the United States was $60,020 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $48,040 and $74,780.
Broader occupation Our title "Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-8031 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. BLS groups Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator within Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Annual wages
Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator, the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $39,110, half earned less than the median of $60,020, 90% earned less than $91,060 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,110 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $48,040 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $60,020 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $74,780 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $91,060 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $62,540 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator, the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $18.80, half earned less than the median of $28.86, 90% earned less than $43.78 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.80 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $23.10 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $28.86 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $35.95 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $43.78 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $30.07 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 128,490 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8031 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, National.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,960 | $50,820 to $78,200 | 1,610 | 0.69 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,590 | $49,000 to $66,460 | 1,330 | 1.12 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $52,200 | $45,360 to $63,200 | 770 | 0.66 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,640 | $53,470 to $67,180 | 370 | 0.6 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,320 | $64,160 to $101,550 | 3,690 | 0.47 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,320 | $64,160 to $101,550 | 3,690 | 0.47 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,780 | $47,320 to $61,540 | 1,910 | 0.57 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $51,940 | $46,370 to $61,790 | 1,980 | 0.73 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $79,290 | $62,120 to $96,250 | 1,770 | 0.47 |
How does Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 51-8031, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $58,410 | Annual | 17,880 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $58,410 | Annual | 17,880 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $59,480 | Annual | 1,100 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | 221300 | $58,370 | Annual | 16,780 |
| Construction | 23 | $61,460 | Annual | 1,030 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $98,290 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $83,190 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $60,790 | Annual | 550 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $60,200 | Annual | 520 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $61,460 | Annual | 440 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $61,460 | Annual | 420 |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $54,720 | Annual | 2,510 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 311100 | $53,480 | Annual | 70 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 311200 | $56,500 | Annual | 80 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 311300 | $61,650 | Annual | 50 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 311400 | $58,860 | Annual | 240 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 311500 | $66,350 | Annual | 250 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $49,730 | Annual | 1,490 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 311700 | $54,530 | Annual | 40 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 311800 | $61,430 | Annual | 40 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 311900 | $62,280 | Annual | 250 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 312000 | $78,160 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 312100 | $78,160 | Annual | 140 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $59,280 | Annual | 5,440 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $64,540 | Annual | 440 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $64,540 | Annual | 390 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $55,980 | Annual | 60 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324000 | $108,700 | Annual | 40 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $108,700 | Annual | 40 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $76,910 | Annual | 480 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $78,950 | Annual | 310 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3250A2 | $62,410 | Annual | 70 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 325400 | $74,670 | Annual | 100 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $58,290 | Annual | 380 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 331100 | $68,640 | Annual | 110 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 331200 | $53,750 | Annual | 50 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 331400 | $55,850 | Annual | 120 |
| Foundries | 331500 | $54,820 | Annual | 80 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $48,030 | Annual | 480 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $56,200 | Annual | 90 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $58,110 | Annual | 50 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 332800 | $45,600 | Annual | 330 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $64,410 | Annual | 80 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $61,260 | Annual | 50 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $60,050 | Annual | 320 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $50,270 | Annual | 210 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335000 | $71,670 | Annual | 60 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $77,670 | Annual | 50 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $80,900 | Annual | 360 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $90,180 | Annual | 60 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $51,040 | Annual | 100 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $88,390 | Annual | 180 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 53 | $51,600 | Annual | 170 |
| Real Estate | 531000 | $51,600 | Annual | 170 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $57,620 | Annual | 1,780 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $57,620 | Annual | 1,780 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $58,810 | Annual | 880 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $49,560 | Annual | 830 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $64,180 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $61,440 | Annual | 2,330 |
| Waste Collection | 562100 | $38,830 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $62,280 | Annual | 1,710 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 562900 | $57,180 | Annual | 530 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $55,670 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $55,670 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Line Foreman (47-1011)Line General Foreman (47-1011)Utility Construction Superintendent (11-9021)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,160 | 1,040 | 0.53 | 1.69 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,190 | 460 | 0.49 | 1.29 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,150 | 200 | 1.67 | 1.81 |
| Napa, CA | $101,540 | 100 | 1.61 | 1.84 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $99,840 | 40 | 1.25 | 1.62 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $99,010 | 830 | 0.48 | 1.36 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $94,060 | 80 | 1.01 | 1.72 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $88,270 | 70 | 0.66 | 1.42 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $87,840 | 40 | 0.87 | 1.78 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $87,310 | 90 | 1.97 | 1.47 |
| Lawton, OK | $40,190 | 60 | 1.6 | 0.95 |
| Bloomington, IN | $40,010 | 80 | 1.32 | 0.84 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $39,570 | 80 | 1.59 | 0.94 |
| Rome, GA | $39,370 | 50 | 1.26 | 0.92 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $39,260 | 40 | 0.86 | 0.91 |
| Valdosta, GA | $37,960 | 30 | 0.68 | 0.97 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,800 | 330 | 1.33 | 1.05 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $37,120 | 220 | 1.64 | 0.83 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $35,520 | 60 | 1.89 | 0.97 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,220 | 970 | 1.71 | 0.99 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National, the published median for SOC 51-8031, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, is $60,020 per year. The middle half of the Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National wage distribution runs from $48,040 to $74,780, a width of $26,740 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator comparison, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $83,320 per year while Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ reports $63,660 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, read alongside Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National, are Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $108,700 per year (NAICS 324000); Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $108,700 per year (NAICS 324100); Construction of Buildings at $98,290 per year (NAICS 236000). Those Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National median was $58,260 per year in May 2024, compared with $60,020 in May 2025, a published difference of $1,760. That Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $58,260 and $60,020 Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before offering $60,020 per year for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National, separate overtime, per diem, lodging and mobilization separately; prevailing wage obligations and union scale depend on the assignment and agreement, not a special BLS traveling-worker percentile. The Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National is broader: BLS groups Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator within Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. When calibrating a Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National opening, the work checks include State operator certification class; sampling; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National buyer?
Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National has a published middle-half band of $48,040 to $74,780, a width of $26,740 per year, with median $60,020. An offer inside that Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National. Comparing those Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators tables with the $60,020 Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National?
Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National uses national industry rows for SOC 51-8031, not local sector-specific wages. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing leads the selected sortable rows at $108,700 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National.
What changed between the releases for Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National?
Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National moved from $58,260 in May 2024 to $60,020 in May 2025. These Water / Wastewater Treatment Operator in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 51-8031. Published annual median: $58,260 (May 2024) and $60,020 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.