Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Colorado Springs, CO, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $65,970 at the median, or about $31.72 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $66K actually covers in Colorado Springs, month by month
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in metros near Colorado Springs, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $76K | , |
| Greeley | $66K | , |
| Boulder | $74K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $73K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado Springs, CO
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $44K 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
View Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $82K | +36% | 11,630 |
| Nevada | $81K | +36% | N/A |
| Washington | $81K | +35% | 2,030 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +31% | 980 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +31% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $75K | +24% | 2,290 |
| Colorado | $74K | +24% | 2,620 |
| Oregon | $70K | +16% | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $69K | +14% | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $68K | +13% | 3,500 |
| Hawaii | $66K | +9% | 610 |
| Delaware | $65K | +8% | 340 |
| New York | $64K | +7% | 5,300 |
| Vermont | $64K | +6% | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | +6% | 2,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | +5% | 4,660 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +5% | 500 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | +5% | 510 |
| Maryland | $62K | +3% | 1,770 |
| Maine | $62K | +3% | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $62K | +3% | 420 |
| Arizona | $61K | +2% | 3,950 |
| Utah | $61K | +2% | 1,900 |
| Nebraska | $61K | +2% | 740 |
| Iowa | $61K | +2% | 2,370 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +1% | 550 |
| Alaska | $60K | +0% | 750 |
| Virginia | $59K | -1% | 3,460 |
| Michigan | $59K | -1% | 3,400 |
| Ohio | $59K | -1% | 5,870 |
| Florida | $59K | -2% | 7,440 |
| Montana | $58K | -3% | 690 |
| Indiana | $54K | -11% | 3,140 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -11% | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $52K | -13% | 1,480 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -13% | 2,650 |
| Alabama | $52K | -14% | 2,770 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -14% | 3,620 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -16% | 3,140 |
| Missouri | $50K | -17% | 3,000 |
| Texas | $49K | -18% | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $49K | -18% | 3,310 |
| New Mexico | $48K | -20% | 2,110 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -21% | 1,100 |
| Kansas | $47K | -22% | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -23% | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -23% | 2,450 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -24% | 2,280 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -24% | 2,540 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -26% | 2,010 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado Springs numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado Springs?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 37.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,615/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Colorado Springs?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,240/month.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator a high-paying job in Colorado Springs?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Colorado Springs compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Colorado Springs pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +10%.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Colorado Springs, CO?
The median is $65,970 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,500, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $92,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Colorado Springs?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,324/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,615/month, which eats 37.3% 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 Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary is worth about $65,970 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.