Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee Salary in the United States
How much does a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee in the United States is $68,243 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,612
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,853 to $77,334
Key Factors That Influence Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee Salaries
A Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee'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:
Power Pla... Level Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
$80,058
Power Pla... Level Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
$89,911
Power Pla... Level Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
$104,085
Power Pla... Level Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
$120,169
$68,8250 yr
$80,058< 2 yrs
$89,9112-4 yrs
$104,0855-8 yrs
$120,169> 8 yrs
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee 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 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainees.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $75,558.
California: $75,272.
Massachusetts: $74,268.
District of Columbia$75,558
California$75,272
Massachusetts$74,268
Washington$73,995
New Jersey$73,968
Alaska$73,873
Connecticut$72,931
New York$72,549
Hawaii$71,327
Rhode Island$70,754
Maryland$70,365
Minnesota$69,833
Colorado$69,628
Illinois$69,560
Oregon$69,300
Delaware$69,109
New Hampshire$68,989
Virginia$68,720
Pennsylvania$67,936
Nevada$67,540
North Dakota$67,410
Michigan$67,205
Wisconsin$67,130
Vermont$66,980
Texas$66,564
Maine$66,537
Arizona$66,496
Ohio$66,448
Georgia$65,820
Indiana$65,506
Wyoming$65,445
Utah$65,349
Iowa$65,308
Kansas$64,981
Louisiana$64,885
North Carolina$64,851
Missouri$64,837
Florida$64,571
Montana$64,428
Nebraska$64,291
Kentucky$64,216
South Carolina$63,943
Tennessee$63,773
Idaho$63,704
New Mexico$63,206
Oklahoma$63,097
Alabama$62,694
South Dakota$62,019
Arkansas$61,650
West Virginia$61,452
Mississippi$60,859
Top Paying Cities for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainees
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: $86,074
San Francisco: $85,132
Oakland: $83,338
San Jose, CA$86,074
San Francisco, CA$85,132
Oakland, CA$83,338
New York, NY$78,574
Paramus, NJ$77,618
Queens Village, NY$77,615
Passaic, NJ$77,550
Bergenfield, NJ$77,544
Stamford, CT$77,394
Huntington, NY$77,366
Newark, NJ$76,862
Bridgeport, CT$76,718
Vallejo, CA$76,582
New Brunswick, NJ$76,555
Petaluma, CA$76,514
Middlesex, NJ$76,384
Somerset, NJ$76,336
Santa Cruz, CA$76,247
Boston, MA$75,831
Monterey, CA$75,592
Seattle, WA$75,435
Santa Rosa, CA$75,422
Los Angeles, CA$75,401
Juneau, AK$75,224
Washington, DC$75,149
Orange, CA$74,906
Santa Ana, CA$74,726
Long Beach, CA$74,657
Anaheim, CA$74,644
Anchorage, AK$74,610
Santa Maria, CA$74,405
Everett, WA$74,391
Danbury, CT$74,151
Bremerton, WA$74,057
Tacoma, WA$73,811
New Suffolk, NY$73,810
Sacramento, CA$73,791
Santa Barbara, CA$73,716
Trenton, NJ$73,641
San Diego, CA$73,641
Brockton, MA$73,566
Fairbanks, AK$73,398
Lompoc, CA$73,224
Lowell, MA$73,169
Ventura, CA$73,156
Nashua, NH$73,142
Stockton, CA$73,136
Modesto, CA$72,637
Poughkeepsie, NY$72,487
Olympia, WA$72,358
Kennewick, WA$72,358
New Haven, CT$72,330
Lawrence, MA$72,085
Hartford, CT$72,016
Riverside, CA$72,003
New Bedford, MA$71,935
Richland, WA$71,935
Bakersfield, CA$71,839
San Bernardino, CA$71,812
New Britain, CT$71,805
Atlantic City, NJ$71,805
New London, CT$71,778
Norwich, CT$71,757
Portsmouth, NH$71,743
Boulder, CO$71,599
Portland, OR$71,505
Worcester, MA$71,498
Minneapolis, MN$71,286
Philadelphia, PA$71,191
Honolulu, HI$70,965
Saint Paul, MN$70,933
Vineland, NJ$70,918
Providence, RI$70,720
Chicago, IL$70,522
Bellingham, WA$70,440
Springfield, MA$70,385
Baltimore, MD$70,365
Chico, CA$70,194
Pittsfield, MA$70,010
Manchester, NH$69,880
Spokane, WA$69,580
Denver, CO$69,573
Albany, NY$69,253
Troy, NY$69,225
Nassau, NY$69,152
Schenectady, NY$69,082
Wilmington, DE$69,027
Burlington, VT$68,932
Salem, OR$68,905
Portland, ME$68,693
Yakima, WA$68,625
Rochester, MN$68,413
Reno, NV$68,379
Fresno, CA$68,379
Milwaukee, WI$68,318
Detroit, MI$68,249
Ann Arbor, MI$68,238
Allentown, PA$68,229
Colorado Springs, CO$68,113
Syracuse, NY$68,079
Carson City, NV$68,079
Houston, TX$67,983
Eugene, OR$67,949
Gary, IN$67,867
Springfield, OR$67,813
Bismarck, ND$67,799
Galveston, TX$67,751
Medford, OR$67,649
Fort Collins, CO$67,622
Concord, NH$67,587
Austin, TX$67,567
Mesa, AZ$67,424
Reading, PA$67,417
Phoenix, AZ$67,410
Dallas, TX$67,390
Saint Cloud, MN$67,324
Madison, WI$67,233
Utica, NY$67,048
Rochester, NY$66,939
Des Moines, IA$66,932
Raleigh, NC$66,926
Atlanta, GA$66,823
Battle Creek, MI$66,803
Salt Lake City, UT$66,782
Lancaster, PA$66,680
Harrisburg, PA$66,584
Kansas City, MO$66,516
Champaign, IL$66,502
Kansas City, KS$66,502
Fort Worth, TX$66,496
Columbus, OH$66,484
Boca Raton, FL$66,468
Pittsburgh, PA$66,441
Richmond, VA$66,414
Indianapolis, IN$66,400
Cleveland, OH$66,393
Las Vegas, NV$66,311
Cincinnati, OH$66,311
Petersburg, VA$66,209
Huntsville, AL$66,107
Lansing, MI$66,061
Lebanon, PA$66,052
Pueblo, CO$66,045
Appleton, WI$66,025
Buffalo, NY$65,997
Dayton, OH$65,977
Racine, WI$65,963
Charlotte, NC$65,956
Saint Louis, MO$65,936
York, PA$65,895
Elkhart, IN$65,895
Gastonia, NC$65,882
Billings, MT$65,866
Beaumont, TX$65,847
Lorain, OH$65,834
Benton Harbor, MI$65,820
Toledo, OH$65,806
Binghamton, NY$65,772
Rock Hill, SC$65,765
Rockford, IL$65,731
Springfield, IL$65,704
Elyria, OH$65,697
Fargo, ND$65,697
Flagstaff, AZ$65,649
Fort Lauderdale, FL$65,608
Duluth, MN$65,567
Miami, FL$65,567
Cheyenne, WY$65,520
Grand Forks, ND$65,520
Bangor, ME$65,370
Cedar Rapids, IA$65,295
Durham, NC$65,266
Louisville, KY$65,260
Grand Rapids, MI$65,247
Hialeah, FL$65,240
Casper, WY$65,144
Scranton, PA$65,062
New Orleans, LA$65,042
Virginia Beach, VA$65,035
Akron, OH$65,001
Peoria, IL$64,912
Sarasota, FL$64,899
Nashville, TN$64,851
Omaha, NE$64,851
Green Bay, WI$64,851
Baton Rouge, LA$64,817
Charleston, SC$64,803
Jamestown, NY$64,769
Davenport, IA$64,769
Tucson, AZ$64,735
Saint Petersburg, FL$64,694
Tampa, FL$64,680
Evansville, IN$64,639
Port Arthur, TX$64,639
Bradenton, FL$64,612
Santa Fe, NM$64,489
Orlando, FL$64,366
Clearwater, FL$64,346
Canton, OH$64,203
La Crosse, WI$64,203
Albuquerque, NM$64,162
Newport News, VA$64,155
High Point, NC$64,134
Ogden, UT$64,107
Corpus Christi, TX$64,053
Norfolk, VA$64,012
Laramie, WY$64,012
Rock Island, IL$63,971
Saginaw, MI$63,957
Jacksonville, FL$63,950
Salisbury, NC$63,936
Boise, ID$63,923
Moline, IL$63,889
Fort Myers, FL$63,868
Memphis, TN$63,855
Tulsa, OK$63,820
Waterloo, IA$63,780
Spartanburg, SC$63,711
Lincoln, NE$63,677
Fort Wayne, IN$63,664
Provo, UT$63,657
Cedar Falls, IA$63,575
San Antonio, TX$63,548
Greensboro, NC$63,520
South Bend, IN$63,513
Savannah, GA$63,438
Muskegon, MI$63,411
Birmingham, AL$63,404
Winston Salem, NC$63,371
Lake Charles, LA$63,206
Anderson, IN$63,193
Lexington, KY$63,172
Augusta, GA$63,152
Greenville, SC$63,152
Lima, OH$63,097
Wichita, KS$63,090
Tuscaloosa, AL$63,090
Columbia, SC$63,029
Springfield, OH$63,015
Asheville, NC$62,906
Bloomington, IN$62,858
Knoxville, TN$62,613
Shreveport, LA$62,606
Wilmington, NC$62,517
Roanoke, VA$62,517
Topeka, KS$62,394
Frankfort, KY$62,387
Oklahoma City, OK$62,340
Chillicothe, OH$62,312
Longview, TX$62,305
Melbourne, FL$62,299
Sioux Falls, SD$62,189
Mobile, AL$62,183
Terre Haute, IN$62,155
Altoona, PA$62,114
Amarillo, TX$62,067
Killeen, TX$62,046
Fayetteville, AR$61,992
Chattanooga, TN$61,971
Sioux City, IA$61,910
Idaho Falls, ID$61,896
Lynchburg, VA$61,841
Gainesville, FL$61,753
Portsmouth, OH$61,719
Little Rock, AR$61,705
Lafayette, LA$61,678
Youngstown, OH$61,678
Daytona Beach, FL$61,637
Clarksville, TN$61,630
Pensacola, FL$61,623
Temple, TX$61,618
Hopkinsville, KY$61,418
Erie, PA$61,405
Florence, SC$61,377
Charleston, WV$61,268
Great Falls, MT$61,234
Macon, GA$61,139
Tallahassee, FL$61,132
Fayetteville, NC$61,118
Waco, TX$61,104
Helena, MT$61,057
Pine Bluff, AR$61,031
Vincennes, IN$60,947
Lubbock, TX$60,920
Alamogordo, NM$60,879
Twin Falls, ID$60,818
Rapid City, SD$60,797
Jackson, MS$60,674
Huntington, WV$60,670
Greenville, MS$60,668
Parkersburg, WV$60,598
Montgomery, AL$60,586
Wichita Falls, TX$60,518
Springfield, MO$60,518
Biloxi, MS$60,483
Monroe, LA$60,415
Johnstown, PA$60,367
Sumter, SC$60,340
Columbus, GA$60,333
Pascagoula, MS$60,204
Abilene, TX$60,204
Kingsport, TN$60,026
Albany, GA$60,026
Gulfport, MS$60,006
Alexandria, LA$59,781
Fort Smith, AR$59,610
El Paso, TX$59,426
Las Cruces, NM$59,119
Harlingen, TX$58,945
Pocatello, ID$58,934
Florence, AL$58,846
Brownsville, TX$58,832
Mcallen, TX$58,689
Dothan, AL$58,593
Columbus, MS$58,188
Altus, OK$57,870
Lawton, OK$57,740
Pierre, SD$57,494
What Skills Can Increase a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.08% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.87% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
Renewable Energy (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Using renewable energy sources for more sustainable business operations to drive environmental risk and cost reduction.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting
8.08%
Preventative Maintenance
2.87%
Renewable Energy
2.07%
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 Plant Operator Trainee's salary.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 44%.
Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Presentation
$98,269
44%
Integrity
$77,797
14%
Flexibility
$77,114
13%
Coordination
$74,384
9%
Verbal Communication
$74,384
9%
Planning
$73,702
8%
Get Latest Data
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Energy & Utilities,
offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely,
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee positions in MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
Understanding how a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$59,853
Average$68,243/year
$77,334
$4,988
Average$5,687/month
$6,445
$1,151
Average$1,312/week
$1,487
$29
Average$33/hour
$37
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$77,334
$6,445
$1,487
$37
Average
$68,243
$5,687
$1,312
$33
25th Percentile
$59,853
$4,988
$1,151
$29
Salaries of jobs related to Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
Salary Trends for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
Salaries for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $65,015 in 2023
to around $64,119 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$65,015
2024
$64,878
2025
$64,119
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$65,015
2024
$64,878
2025
$64,119
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
Here are companies hiring for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$126,909/per year
Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$121,776/per year
GE Renewable Energy
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$117,881/per year
Chint Electric International Co Ltd
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$112,827/per year
Constellation Energy Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$110,892/per year
Plains GP Holdings LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$109,070/per year
Weatherford International PLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
E
$108,905/per year
Enterprise Products Partners LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$108,399/per year
Constellation Technology Ventures
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$105,977/per year
Plains All American Pipeline LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$104,755/per year
Areva SA
Energy & Utilities
the United States
H
$103,814/per year
Hf Sinclair Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
F
$103,342/per year
Florida Power & Light Co
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$102,127/per year
Greymart
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$98,523/per year
Golden Alpha Inc
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$97,825/per year
Alaska Chadux Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
M
$92,856/per year
Major Energy
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$91,703/per year
Waste Recovery Systems
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$91,604/per year
ADS-TEC Energy PLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$88,905/per year
Great American Disposal Co
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$86,937/per year
Wieland Diversified
Energy & Utilities
the United States
M
$86,069/per year
Moser Energy Systems
Energy & Utilities
the United States
L
$85,884/per year
Longevity Partners
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$82,126/per year
PricingUtilities.com
Energy & Utilities
the United States
B
$78,189/per year
Blue Water Resources
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$76,117/per year
Carbon Rivers LLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
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FAQ about Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee roles,
with salaries approximately 30% 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.
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