Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary

BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 50 reporting states. Tax year 2026.

Quick answer

According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in the US earns $60,020 per year (128,490 employed). Gross pay is highest in California ($81,770) and lowest in Arkansas ($44,320) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay by stategross median vs take-home

State	Median wage	After taxes	Monthly net	Kept	Employed
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in California	$81,770	$62,980	$5,248	77%	11,630
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Nevada	$81,440	$66,123	$5,510	81.2%	—
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Washington	$80,800	$65,673	$5,473	81.3%	2,030
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Connecticut	$78,820	$61,520	$5,127	78.1%	980
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New Jersey	$78,760	$61,409	$5,117	78%	2,500
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Minnesota	$74,670	$57,806	$4,817	77.4%	2,290
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Colorado	$74,200	$58,473	$4,873	78.8%	2,620
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Oregon	$69,720	$52,607	$4,384	75.5%	1,240
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Massachusetts	$68,550	$53,848	$4,487	78.6%	2,510
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Illinois	$67,810	$53,323	$4,444	78.6%	3,500
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Hawaii	$65,560	$51,405	$4,284	78.4%	610
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Delaware	$64,940	$51,414	$4,285	79.2%	340
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New York	$63,990	$50,738	$4,228	79.3%	5,300
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Vermont	$63,640	$51,575	$4,298	81%	320
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Wisconsin	$63,550	$51,227	$4,269	80.6%	2,230
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Pennsylvania	$63,310	$51,106	$4,259	80.7%	4,660
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Wyoming	$63,260	$53,009	$4,417	83.8%	500
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New Hampshire	$62,940	$52,752	$4,396	83.8%	510
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Maryland	$61,870	$49,317	$4,110	79.7%	1,770
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Maine	$61,870	$48,898	$4,075	79%	710
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Rhode Island	$61,820	$50,151	$4,179	81.1%	420
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Arizona	$61,340	$50,142	$4,179	81.7%	3,950
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Utah	$61,290	$48,668	$4,056	79.4%	1,900
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Nebraska	$61,220	$49,464	$4,122	80.8%	740
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Iowa	$60,990	$49,520	$4,127	81.2%	2,370
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Dakota	$60,470	$50,768	$4,231	84%	550
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Alaska	$60,160	$50,519	$4,210	84%	750
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Virginia	$59,420	$47,321	$3,943	79.6%	3,460
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Michigan	$59,270	$47,535	$3,961	80.2%	3,400
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Ohio	$59,170	$48,878	$4,073	82.6%	5,870
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Florida	$59,030	$49,611	$4,134	84%	7,440
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Montana	$58,040	$46,844	$3,904	80.7%	690
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Indiana	$53,540	$43,649	$3,637	81.5%	3,140
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Dakota	$53,370	$45,063	$3,755	84.4%	1,060
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Idaho	$52,210	$42,472	$3,539	81.3%	1,480
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Carolina	$52,090	$42,066	$3,506	80.8%	2,650
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Alabama	$51,870	$41,529	$3,461	80.1%	2,770
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in North Carolina	$51,680	$42,152	$3,513	81.6%	3,620
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Tennessee	$50,670	$42,893	$3,574	84.7%	3,140
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Missouri	$49,940	$40,897	$3,408	81.9%	3,000
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Texas	$49,460	$41,921	$3,493	84.8%	10,520
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Georgia	$48,930	$39,579	$3,298	80.9%	3,310
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in New Mexico	$48,190	$39,796	$3,316	82.6%	2,110
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in West Virginia	$47,560	$38,982	$3,249	82%	1,100
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Kansas	$46,780	$37,957	$3,163	81.1%	1,560
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Mississippi	$46,480	$38,400	$3,200	82.6%	1,150
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Louisiana	$46,210	$38,310	$3,192	82.9%	2,450
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Oklahoma	$45,890	$37,533	$3,128	81.8%	2,280
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Kentucky	$45,430	$37,211	$3,101	81.9%	2,540
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in Arkansas	$44,320	$36,275	$3,023	81.8%	2,010

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