What are the main factors that influence a Water Jet Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Water Jet Operator?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Water Jet Operator roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

How does experience change A Water Jet Operator's salary?

A Water Jet Operator's salary grows with experience: a CNC Machine Operator I (1-3 years)earns $44,837, a Water Jet Operator (3-5 years)earns $56,796, a CNC Machine Operator III (5-7 years)earns $64,581,

What are the highest paying cities for a Water Jet Operator?

Water Jet Operator salary varies significantly by city. The top 3 highest paying cities in Tennessee for Water Jet Operator roles are San Jose $77,747, San Francisco $76,895, Oakland $75,275.

How much do different types of Water Jet Operator roles make?

Salaries for Water Jet Operator level roles vary by specialization: Water System Operator: $97,001; Water Systems Operator: $94,914; Water Plant Operator: $62,825; WATER RECLAMATION OPERATOR: $55,796; Waste Water Operator: $55,341.

What specialized skills increase a Water Jet Operator's salary?

Skills with high demand and low supply, such as Initiative (up to 4% premium), Written Communication (up to 3% premium), Lean (up to 2% premium), directly translate to higher compensation. Employers pay more for these capabilities to gain a competitive edge.

Water Jet Operator Salary in Kodak, TN

How much does a Water Jet Operator make in Kodak, TN?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Water Jet Operator in Kodak, TN is $56,394 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,144
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,616 to $62,545
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,355

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Water Jet Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,545	$5,212	$1,203	$30
Average	$56,394	$4,700	$1,085	$27
25th Percentile	$50,616	$4,218	$973	$24

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Water Jet Operator Job Openings in Kodak, TN

Caregiver Support an Adult Client

Herewith Caregivers - Kodak, TN

Assistant General Manager

Bluemont Group - Kodak, TN

General Manager

Pizza Hut - Flynn Group - Kodak, TN

General Warehouse

Randstad - Kodak, TN

Search More Water Jet Operator Jobs in Kodak, TN

Key Factors That Influence Water Jet Operator Salaries

A Water Jet 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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Water Jet 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: $77,747
San Francisco: $76,895
Oakland: $75,275

San Jose, CA $77,747

San Francisco, CA $76,895

Oakland, CA $75,275

New York, NY $70,972

Paramus, NJ $70,109

Queens Village, NY $70,106

Passaic, NJ $70,047

Bergenfield, NJ $70,042

Stamford, CT $69,906

Huntington, NY $69,881

Newark, NJ $69,425

Bridgeport, CT $69,295

Vallejo, CA $69,172

New Brunswick, NJ $69,148

Petaluma, CA $69,111

Middlesex, NJ $68,994

Somerset, NJ $68,951

Santa Cruz, CA $68,870

Boston, MA $68,494

Monterey, CA $68,278

Seattle, WA $68,137

Santa Rosa, CA $68,125

Los Angeles, CA $68,106

Juneau, AK $67,946

Washington, DC $67,878

Orange, CA $67,659

Santa Ana, CA $67,496

Long Beach, CA $67,434

Anaheim, CA $67,422

Anchorage, AK $67,391

Santa Maria, CA $67,206

Everett, WA $67,194

Danbury, CT $66,977

Bremerton, WA $66,892

Tacoma, WA $66,670

New Suffolk, NY $66,669

Sacramento, CA $66,651

Santa Barbara, CA $66,584

Trenton, NJ $66,516

San Diego, CA $66,516

Brockton, MA $66,448

Fairbanks, AK $66,297

Lompoc, CA $66,140

Lowell, MA $66,090

Ventura, CA $66,078

Nashua, NH $66,066

Stockton, CA $66,060

Modesto, CA $65,610

Poughkeepsie, NY $65,474

Olympia, WA $65,357

Kennewick, WA $65,357

New Haven, CT $65,332

Lawrence, MA $65,110

Hartford, CT $65,049

Riverside, CA $65,036

New Bedford, MA $64,975

Richland, WA $64,975

Bakersfield, CA $64,888

San Bernardino, CA $64,864

New Britain, CT $64,858

Atlantic City, NJ $64,858

New London, CT $64,833

Norwich, CT $64,814

Portsmouth, NH $64,802

Boulder, CO $64,671

Portland, OR $64,586

Worcester, MA $64,580

Minneapolis, MN $64,389

Philadelphia, PA $64,303

Honolulu, HI $64,099

Saint Paul, MN $64,070

Vineland, NJ $64,056

Providence, RI $63,878

Chicago, IL $63,699

Bellingham, WA $63,625

Springfield, MA $63,575

Baltimore, MD $63,557

Chico, CA $63,403

Pittsfield, MA $63,236

Manchester, NH $63,119

Spokane, WA $62,848

Denver, CO $62,842

Albany, NY $62,552

Troy, NY $62,528

Nassau, NY $62,462

Schenectady, NY $62,398

Wilmington, DE $62,349

Burlington, VT $62,263

Salem, OR $62,238

Portland, ME $62,047

Yakima, WA $61,985

Rochester, MN $61,794

Reno, NV $61,763

Fresno, CA $61,763

Milwaukee, WI $61,708

Detroit, MI $61,646

Ann Arbor, MI $61,636

Allentown, PA $61,628

Colorado Springs, CO $61,523

Syracuse, NY $61,492

Carson City, NV $61,492

Houston, TX $61,406

Eugene, OR $61,375

Gary, IN $61,301

Springfield, OR $61,252

Bismarck, ND $61,239

Galveston, TX $61,196

Medford, OR $61,104

Fort Collins, CO $61,079

Concord, NH $61,048

Austin, TX $61,030

Mesa, AZ $60,900

Reading, PA $60,894

Phoenix, AZ $60,888

Dallas, TX $60,870

Saint Cloud, MN $60,810

Madison, WI $60,728

Utica, NY $60,561

Rochester, NY $60,463

Des Moines, IA $60,457

Raleigh, NC $60,450

Atlanta, GA $60,358

Battle Creek, MI $60,339

Salt Lake City, UT $60,321

Lancaster, PA $60,228

Harrisburg, PA $60,142

Kansas City, MO $60,081

Champaign, IL $60,068

Kansas City, KS $60,068

Fort Worth, TX $60,062

Columbus, OH $60,052

Boca Raton, FL $60,037

Pittsburgh, PA $60,013

Richmond, VA $59,988

Indianapolis, IN $59,976

Cleveland, OH $59,970

Las Vegas, NV $59,896

Cincinnati, OH $59,896

Petersburg, VA $59,803

Huntsville, AL $59,711

Lansing, MI $59,669

Lebanon, PA $59,661

Pueblo, CO $59,655

Appleton, WI $59,637

Buffalo, NY $59,612

Dayton, OH $59,594

Racine, WI $59,581

Charlotte, NC $59,575

Saint Louis, MO $59,557

York, PA $59,520

Elkhart, IN $59,520

Gastonia, NC $59,508

Billings, MT $59,493

Beaumont, TX $59,476

Lorain, OH $59,464

Benton Harbor, MI $59,452

Toledo, OH $59,439

Binghamton, NY $59,409

Rock Hill, SC $59,402

Rockford, IL $59,372

Springfield, IL $59,347

Elyria, OH $59,341

Fargo, ND $59,341

Flagstaff, AZ $59,298

Fort Lauderdale, FL $59,261

Duluth, MN $59,224

Miami, FL $59,224

Cheyenne, WY $59,181

Grand Forks, ND $59,181

Bangor, ME $59,045

Cedar Rapids, IA $58,977

Durham, NC $58,951

Louisville, KY $58,946

Grand Rapids, MI $58,934

Hialeah, FL $58,928

Casper, WY $58,842

Scranton, PA $58,768

New Orleans, LA $58,749

Virginia Beach, VA $58,743

Akron, OH $58,712

Peoria, IL $58,632

Sarasota, FL $58,620

Nashville, TN $58,576

Omaha, NE $58,576

Green Bay, WI $58,576

Baton Rouge, LA $58,546

Charleston, SC $58,533

Jamestown, NY $58,503

Davenport, IA $58,503

Tucson, AZ $58,472

Saint Petersburg, FL $58,435

Tampa, FL $58,422

Evansville, IN $58,385

Port Arthur, TX $58,385

Bradenton, FL $58,361

Santa Fe, NM $58,250

Orlando, FL $58,139

Clearwater, FL $58,120

Canton, OH $57,991

La Crosse, WI $57,991

Albuquerque, NM $57,954

Newport News, VA $57,948

High Point, NC $57,929

Ogden, UT $57,905

Corpus Christi, TX $57,855

Norfolk, VA $57,818

Laramie, WY $57,818

Rock Island, IL $57,781

Saginaw, MI $57,769

Jacksonville, FL $57,763

Salisbury, NC $57,751

Boise, ID $57,738

Moline, IL $57,707

Fort Myers, FL $57,689

Memphis, TN $57,677

Tulsa, OK $57,646

Waterloo, IA $57,609

Spartanburg, SC $57,547

Lincoln, NE $57,516

Fort Wayne, IN $57,504

Provo, UT $57,498

Cedar Falls, IA $57,424

San Antonio, TX $57,399

Greensboro, NC $57,375

South Bend, IN $57,368

Savannah, GA $57,301

Muskegon, MI $57,276

Birmingham, AL $57,270

Winston Salem, NC $57,240

Lake Charles, LA $57,091

Anderson, IN $57,079

Lexington, KY $57,060

Augusta, GA $57,042

Greenville, SC $57,042

Lima, OH $56,992

Wichita, KS $56,986

Tuscaloosa, AL $56,986

Columbia, SC $56,931

Springfield, OH $56,918

Asheville, NC $56,820

Bloomington, IN $56,777

Knoxville, TN $56,555

Shreveport, LA $56,549

Wilmington, NC $56,468

Roanoke, VA $56,468

Topeka, KS $56,357

Frankfort, KY $56,351

Oklahoma City, OK $56,308

Chillicothe, OH $56,283

Longview, TX $56,277

Melbourne, FL $56,271

Sioux Falls, SD $56,173

Mobile, AL $56,166

Terre Haute, IN $56,142

Altoona, PA $56,105

Amarillo, TX $56,062

Killeen, TX $56,043

Fayetteville, AR $55,994

Chattanooga, TN $55,975

Sioux City, IA $55,920

Idaho Falls, ID $55,907

Lynchburg, VA $55,858

Gainesville, FL $55,778

Portsmouth, OH $55,747

Little Rock, AR $55,735

Lafayette, LA $55,710

Youngstown, OH $55,710

Daytona Beach, FL $55,673

Clarksville, TN $55,667

Pensacola, FL $55,661

Temple, TX $55,657

Hopkinsville, KY $55,476

Erie, PA $55,464

Florence, SC $55,439

Charleston, WV $55,340

Great Falls, MT $55,310

Macon, GA $55,223

Tallahassee, FL $55,217

Fayetteville, NC $55,205

Waco, TX $55,192

Helena, MT $55,149

Pine Bluff, AR $55,126

Vincennes, IN $55,051

Lubbock, TX $55,026

Alamogordo, NM $54,989

Twin Falls, ID $54,934

Rapid City, SD $54,915

Jackson, MS $54,804

Huntington, WV $54,800

Greenville, MS $54,798

Parkersburg, WV $54,735

Montgomery, AL $54,724

Wichita Falls, TX $54,662

Springfield, MO $54,662

Biloxi, MS $54,632

Monroe, LA $54,570

Johnstown, PA $54,527

Sumter, SC $54,502

Columbus, GA $54,496

Pascagoula, MS $54,379

Abilene, TX $54,379

Kingsport, TN $54,219

Albany, GA $54,219

Gulfport, MS $54,200

Alexandria, LA $53,997

Fort Smith, AR $53,843

El Paso, TX $53,676

Las Cruces, NM $53,399

Harlingen, TX $53,242

Pocatello, ID $53,232

Florence, AL $53,152

Brownsville, TX $53,140

Mcallen, TX $53,010

Dothan, AL $52,924

Columbus, MS $52,558

Altus, OK $52,271

Lawton, OK $52,154

Pierre, SD $51,932

What Skills Can Increase a Water Jet Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 1.78% 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 1.3% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 0.98% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting	1.78%
Preventative Maintenance	1.3%
Preventive Maintenance	0.98%

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 Jet Operator's salary.

Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Lean: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Initiative	$58,650	4%
Written Communication	$58,086	3%
Lean	$57,522	2%
Visual Inspection	$56,958	1%
CAD	$56,958	1%
Problem Solving	$56,958	1%

Get Latest Data

Water Jet Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Water Jet Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Water Jet Operator positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Water Jet Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Water Jet Operator

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology	$78,952	$38.0	40%
Aerospace & Defense	$73,313	$35.0	30%
Energy & Utilities	$64,854	$31.0	15%

Water Jet Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Water Jet 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 August 01, 2026

$50,616

Average $56,394/year

$62,545

$4,218

Average $4,700/month

$5,212

$973

Average $1,085/week

$1,203

$24

Average $27/hour

$30

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,545	$5,212	$1,203	$30
Average	$56,394	$4,700	$1,085	$27
25th Percentile	$50,616	$4,218	$973	$24

Salaries of jobs related to Water Jet Operator

Find Your Next Water Jet Operator Job

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

Mountain Motorsports

Kodak, TN

Service Porter Motorcycle ATV Powersports

Mountain Motorsports | Kodak, TN

Service Porter. Service Porters are the backbone of the Service Department. They help us live our Mission daily by assisting the store to maintain a clean ... more

6 Days Ago
nLeague

Kodak, TN

Dental Assistant

nLeague | Kodak, TN

Dental Assistant 2. Under direct supervision of a licensed dentist, performs procedures designated under the scope of practice for a registered dental assi... more

6 Days Ago
Silver Angels of Tennessee - Sevier, LLC

Kodak, TN

Branch Operations Manager

Silver Angels of Tennessee - Sevier, LLC | Kodak, TN

About Us:Silver Angels of Tennessee - Sevier office. We service Sevier, Blount, Jefferson, Cocke and surrounding counties.You can apply through the job pos... more

7 Days Ago
Wise Staffing

Kodak, TN

Quality Inspector

Wise Staffing | Kodak, TN

Position: Quality InspectorPay Rate: $16 per hourShifts: 1st shift 2:00 pm to 10:30 PmJob Description:We are seeking diligent and detail-oriented individua... more

7 Days Ago
Tradesmen International

Kodak, TN

HVAC Installer

Tradesmen International | Kodak, TN

DescriptionTradesmen International is immediately hiring experienced HVAC Installers for projects located in the Kodak, TN area. This is a first shift oppo... more

7 Days Ago
CWI

Kodak, TN

Lot Porter

CWI | Kodak, TN

Lot Porter. Camping World is seeking a Lot Porter for our growing team. Camping World is looking for a Lot Porter to provide driving and support services a... more

7 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Kodak, TN

Cost of Living in Kodak, TN is

-8.7% Lower

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about

Salary Search

Salary Calculator Tools

Know Your Worth

Advance at Work

Explore Career Path

Land Your Next Role

Software + AI

Data

Survey Catalogue