Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Asheville, NC
In Asheville, NC, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $49,710 at the median — $23.9 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.51), that's roughly $51,508 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,567/month — about 45.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Asheville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Asheville’s Regional Price Parity (96.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Asheville, NC
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $82K | +41% | 11,260 |
| Nevada | $79K | +36% | N/A |
| Washington | $79K | +35% | 1,950 |
| Alaska | $77K | +32% | 570 |
| New Jersey | $75K | +29% | 2,040 |
| Connecticut | $74K | +28% | 750 |
| Minnesota | $70K | +21% | 2,050 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | +14% | 930 |
| Hawaii | $66K | +13% | 660 |
| Massachusetts | $66K | +13% | 2,480 |
| Oregon | $65K | +11% | 1,170 |
| Illinois | $64K | +9% | 3,870 |
| New York | $63K | +8% | 5,270 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +7% | 2,110 |
| Vermont | $62K | +6% | 340 |
| Arizona | $61K | +6% | 3,470 |
| Maine | $61K | +5% | 660 |
| Wyoming | $61K | +4% | 710 |
| Delaware | $60K | +3% | 250 |
| Montana | $60K | +3% | 690 |
| Iowa | $59K | +2% | 2,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 5,190 |
| Utah | $59K | +1% | 1,750 |
| Virginia | $59K | +1% | 3,390 |
| Maryland | $59K | +1% | 1,630 |
| Ohio | $59K | +1% | 5,550 |
| Florida | $59K | +1% | 7,560 |
| Michigan | $58K | +0% | 2,720 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -0% | 660 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -1% | 1,040 |
| Rhode Island | $57K | -2% | 360 |
| Indiana | $55K | -5% | 3,300 |
| South Dakota | $54K | -7% | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $53K | -9% | 1,110 |
| Missouri | $53K | -9% | 2,700 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -13% | 3,090 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -15% | 3,420 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -15% | 2,800 |
| Georgia | $49K | -15% | 2,880 |
| Alabama | $49K | -16% | 2,950 |
| Texas | $48K | -17% | 10,340 |
| Kansas | $48K | -18% | 1,430 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -18% | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -20% | 2,180 |
| Mississippi | $45K | -23% | 1,140 |
| West Virginia | $44K | -25% | 1,210 |
| Oklahoma | $41K | -29% | 2,750 |
| Louisiana | $39K | -34% | 2,230 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -34% | 2,240 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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Frequently asked questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Asheville, NC?
The median is $49,710 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,440, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $61,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Asheville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,312/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,567/month, which eats 47.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary go in Asheville?
Asheville has a Regional Price Parity of 96.51 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary is worth about $51,508 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.