Wastewater Treatment Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Wastewater Treatment Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Wastewater Treatment Operator in the United States is $54,306 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Wastewater Treatment Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,287
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,666 to $61,101
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,621
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View as table View as graph 25% $47,666 10% $41,621 90% $67,287 75% $61,101 $54,306 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Wastewater Treatment Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,101 $5,092 $1,175 $29
Average $54,306 $4,526 $1,044 $26
25th Percentile $47,666 $3,972 $917 $23
Check out Wastewater Treatment Operator Job Openings in the United States
Wastewater Operator

Cargill - FORT MORGAN, CO

WASTERWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

Department of Defense - CRANE, IN

WASTERWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

Department of the Navy - CRANE, IN

Outpatient Physical Therapist

Greendale Physical Therapy, LLC - WORCESTER, MA

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Key Factors That Influence Wastewater Treatment Operator Salaries

A Wastewater Treatment Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Wastewater Treatment Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Wastewater Treatment Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $53,661
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $53,845
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,690
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,450
  • Expert (over 8 years): $59,555
Levels Salary
Entry Level Wastewater Treatment Operator$53,661
Intermediate Level Wastewater Treatment Operator$53,845
Senior Level Wastewater Treatment Operator$55,690
Specialist Level Wastewater Treatment Operator$58,450
Expert Level Wastewater Treatment Operator$59,555
$53,661 0 yr
$53,845 < 2 yrs
$55,690 2-4 yrs
$58,450 5-8 yrs
$59,555 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Wastewater Treatment Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $68,497
  • San Francisco: $67,823
  • Oakland: $66,319

What Skills Can Increase a Wastewater Treatment Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.3% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Plumbing (Mentioned in 3.58% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
  • Material Handling (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.3%
Plumbing 3.58%
Material Handling 2.38%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Wastewater Treatment Operator's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
$66,254
22%
Consulting
$65,711
21%
Leadership
$59,194
9%
Organizational Skills
$59,194
9%
Verbal Communication
$58,108
7%
Coordination
$58,108
7%
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How Education impacts a Wastewater Treatment Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Wastewater Treatment Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Wastewater Treatment Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $53,721 and $58,696).

Wastewater Treatment Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Wastewater Treatment Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 66.7%
High School 66.7%
Associates 33.3%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Wastewater Treatment Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Wastewater Treatment Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Wastewater Treatment Operator

Salaries for a Wastewater Treatment Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $45,948 in 2023 to around $46,156 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Wastewater Treatment Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Wastewater Treatment Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$45,948
2024
$46,238
2025
$46,156
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $45,948
2024 $46,238
2025 $46,156
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Wastewater Treatment Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Wastewater Treatment Operator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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