The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in the United States is around $60,020 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $60,020.
Wages typically start from $39,110 and go up to $91,060.
9% below national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$43.78 per hour
$91,060 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$35.95 per hour
$74,780 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$28.86 per hour
$60,020 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$23.10 per hour
$48,040 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$18.80 per hour
$39,110 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Water treatment plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,770 |
| Nevada | $81,440 |
| Washington | $80,800 |
| District of Columbia | $78,890 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| New Jersey | $78,760 |
| Minnesota | $74,670 |
| Colorado | $74,200 |
| Oregon | $69,720 |
| Massachusetts | $68,550 |
| Illinois | $67,810 |
| Hawaii | $65,560 |
| Delaware | $64,940 |
| New York | $63,990 |
| Vermont | $63,640 |
| Wisconsin | $63,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,310 |
| Wyoming | $63,260 |
| New Hampshire | $62,940 |
| Maryland | $61,870 |
| Maine | $61,870 |
| Rhode Island | $61,820 |
| Arizona | $61,340 |
| Utah | $61,290 |
| Nebraska | $61,220 |
| Iowa | $60,990 |
| North Dakota | $60,470 |
| Alaska | $60,160 |
| Virginia | $59,420 |
| Michigan | $59,270 |
| Ohio | $59,170 |
| Florida | $59,030 |
| Montana | $58,040 |
| Indiana | $53,540 |
| South Dakota | $53,370 |
| Idaho | $52,210 |
| South Carolina | $52,090 |
| Alabama | $51,870 |
| North Carolina | $51,680 |
| Tennessee | $50,670 |
| Missouri | $49,940 |
| Texas | $49,460 |
| Georgia | $48,930 |
| New Mexico | $48,190 |
| Guam | $47,610 |
| West Virginia | $47,560 |
| Kansas | $46,780 |
| Mississippi | $46,480 |
| Louisiana | $46,210 |
| Oklahoma | $45,890 |
| Kentucky | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $44,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,910 |
How do water treatment plant operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Water treatment plant operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than carpenters but more than ship loaders.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Carpenter salary | $61K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $62K |
| HVAC technician salary | $61K |
| Pump operator salary | $62K |
| Drywall installer salary | $59K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $60K |
| Plasterer salary | $58K |
| Derrick operator salary | $59K |
| Cement mason salary | $57K |
| Ship loader salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)