The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in the United States is around $56,058 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $56,058.
Wages typically start from $37,460 and go up to $83,888.
11% below national average Updated in 2023
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$40.33 per hour
$83,888 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$33.32 per hour
$69,306 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$26.95 per hour
$56,058 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$21.80 per hour
$45,342 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$18.01 per hour
$37,460 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Water treatment plant operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $78,890 |
| Nevada | $76,300 |
| Washington | $76,070 |
| California | $75,550 |
| Connecticut | $63,870 |
| New Jersey | $63,220 |
| Hawaii | $61,350 |
| Oregon | $61,350 |
| Massachusetts | $60,650 |
| Alaska | $60,550 |
| Minnesota | $60,240 |
| New York | $60,220 |
| Colorado | $59,860 |
| Illinois | $59,860 |
| Rhode Island | $59,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,900 |
| Wisconsin | $52,020 |
| North Dakota | $49,480 |
| New Hampshire | $49,480 |
| Ohio | $48,340 |
| Delaware | $48,240 |
| Maine | $48,240 |
| Vermont | $48,240 |
| Michigan | $47,880 |
| Wyoming | $47,830 |
| Montana | $47,810 |
| Arizona | $47,690 |
| Idaho | $47,620 |
| Guam | $47,610 |
| Utah | $47,430 |
| Florida | $47,420 |
| Indiana | $47,330 |
| Iowa | $47,320 |
| Nebraska | $47,190 |
| South Dakota | $47,190 |
| Maryland | $46,970 |
| Missouri | $46,790 |
| New Mexico | $46,590 |
| Virginia | $46,590 |
| North Carolina | $46,150 |
| Georgia | $46,060 |
| Tennessee | $45,590 |
| Alabama | $45,330 |
| South Carolina | $38,640 |
| Kentucky | $37,720 |
| West Virginia | $37,720 |
| Mississippi | $37,610 |
| Texas | $37,600 |
| Kansas | $37,570 |
| Louisiana | $37,570 |
| Oklahoma | $37,550 |
| Arkansas | $37,350 |
| 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 plasterers but more than ship loaders.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Plasterer salary | $64K |
| Mining machine operator salary | $62K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $60K |
| Faller salary | $53K |
| Commercial diver salary | $57K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $56K |
| Crane operator salary | $50K |
| Locksmith salary | $50K |
| Extraction worker salary | $51K |
| Ship loader salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)