Water Damage Restoration Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Water Damage Restoration Technician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Water Damage Restoration Technician in the United States is $56,519 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Water Damage Restoration Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,960
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,310 to $64,078
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,657
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View as table View as graph 25% $50,310 10% $44,657 90% $70,960 75% $64,078 $56,519 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Water Damage Restoration Technician Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $64,078 $5,340 $1,232 $31
Average $56,519 $4,710 $1,087 $27
25th Percentile $50,310 $4,193 $968 $24
Check out Water Damage Restoration Technician Job Openings in the United States
Water Restoration Technician

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Instacart - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Water Damage Restoration Technician Salaries

A Water Damage Restoration Technician'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 Water Damage Restoration Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Water Damage Restoration Technician'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): $49,906
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $55,963
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,082
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $96,603
  • Expert (over 8 years): $110,226
Levels Salary
Waste Wat... Level Water Damage Restoration Technician$49,906
Water Dam... Level Water Damage Restoration Technician$55,963
Waste Wat... Level Water Damage Restoration Technician$63,082
Waste Wat... Level Water Damage Restoration Technician$96,603
Waste Wat... Level Water Damage Restoration Technician$110,226
$49,906 0 yr
$55,963 < 2 yrs
$63,082 2-4 yrs
$96,603 5-8 yrs
$110,226 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Water Damage Restoration Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Water Damage Restoration Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $62,577.
  • California: $62,340.
  • Massachusetts: $61,509.

Top Paying Cities for Water Damage Restoration Technicians

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: $71,287
  • San Francisco: $70,506
  • Oakland: $69,020

What Skills Can Increase a Water Damage Restoration Technician'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 Water Damage Restoration Technician'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
$68,953
22%
Consulting
$68,387
21%
Leadership
$61,605
9%
Organizational Skills
$61,605
9%
Verbal Communication
$60,475
7%
Coordination
$60,475
7%
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Water Damage Restoration Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Water Damage Restoration Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Water Damage Restoration Technician positions in Retail & Wholesale or Aerospace & Defense typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Water Damage Restoration Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Water Damage Restoration Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$70,648$34.025%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$67,822$33.020%
MFG Durable$64,996$31.015%
Biotechnology$62,170$30.010%
Energy & Utilities$59,344$29.05%

How Education impacts a Water Damage Restoration Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Water Damage Restoration Technicians 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 Water Damage Restoration Technician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $53,721 and $58,696).

Water Damage Restoration Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Water Damage Restoration Technician
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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Water Damage Restoration Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Water Damage Restoration Technician'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Water Damage Restoration Technician

Salaries for a Water Damage Restoration Technician can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $46,130 in 2023 to around $46,338 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Water Damage Restoration Technician salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Water Damage Restoration Technician Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,130
2024
$46,421
2025
$46,338
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,130
2024 $46,421
2025 $46,338
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Water Damage Restoration Technician

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Water Damage Restoration Technician

Here are companies hiring for Water Damage Restoration Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Water Damage Restoration Technician Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Water Damage Restoration Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Continuum Medical Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    Continuum Medical Staffing | Columbus, OH

    PSYCHIATRIST- CHILD/ADOLESCENT COLUMBUS OHIO We are seeking a Board-Certified Child/ Adolescent Psychiatrist for a permanent position in Columbus Ohio No V... more

    6 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

    17 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    18 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    18 Days Ago

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FAQ about Water Damage Restoration Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Water Damage Restoration Technician?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Water Damage Restoration Technician roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

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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