Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Connecticut, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $78,820 at the median, or about $37.9 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $76,614 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,679/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Connecticut. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Connecticut?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Connecticut
Connecticut sits well above the national pay line for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,679/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Connecticut
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Connecticut
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury | $82K | +4% | 170 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $81K | +3% | 330 |
| New Haven | $80K | +2% | 130 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | $79K | -0% | 130 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $75K | -4% | 150 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,654/month. At HUD’s $1,679/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator a high-paying job in Connecticut?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $79K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Connecticut pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Connecticut?
The median is $78,820 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,900, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $98,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,996/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 33.6% 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary is worth about $76,614 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.