The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in Washington is around $80,800 per year.
Avg Salary
Water treatment plant operators earn an average yearly salary of $80,800.
Wages typically start from $57,720 and go up to $106,270.
3% above national average Updated in 2025
Water treatment plant operator earnings by seniority
Top-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$51.09 per hour
$106,270 per year
Senior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$48.05 per hour
$99,940 per year
Mid-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$38.85 per hour
$80,800 per year
Junior-level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$32.54 per hour
$67,690 per year
Starting level water treatment plant operator earnings begin at:
$27.75 per hour
$57,720 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 Washington. On average, they make less than pipefitters but more than drywall installers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Pipefitter salary | $81K |
| Hydroelectric plant technician salary | $89K |
| Faller salary | $77K |
| Millwright salary | $76K |
| Brickmason salary | $83K |
| Water treatment plant operator salary | $81K |
| Rigger salary | $77K |
| Pipelayer salary | $82K |
| Cement mason salary | $78K |
| Drywall installer salary | $73K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)