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Salary comparison

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators by $14K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators land at $60,020 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators is California ($81,770); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$60,020
$74,450
Hourly rate
$28.86/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,110
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$91,060
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
128,490
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
-6.5%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
California
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators median pay.

State
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Washington
$80,800
$79,310
Connecticut
$78,820
$83,150
New Jersey
$78,760
$81,110
Minnesota
$74,670
$78,550
Colorado
$74,200
$78,890
Massachusetts
$68,550
$79,920
Delaware
$64,940
$79,100
New York
$63,990
$78,580
Wyoming
$63,260
$90,390
New Hampshire
$62,940
$79,310
Maine
$61,870
$78,970
Maryland
$61,870
$78,520
Rhode Island
$61,820
$81,650
Alaska
$60,160
$77,960
Louisiana
$46,210
$77,520

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $60,020 for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $14K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to -6.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators at $81,770/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earn $80,800 vs. $79,310 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operatorsGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →