Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $76,150 at the median, or about $36.61 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers.
So what does $76K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $66K | , |
| 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, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $45K 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 |
| Maine | $62K | +3% | 710 |
| Maryland | $62K | +3% | 1,770 |
| 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
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 quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,130/month.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $76K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +27%.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $76,150 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,160, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $97,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,884/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 24.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 $76,150 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.