Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Hawaii, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $65,560 at the median, or about $31.52 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $59,508 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 52.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Hawaii?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Hawaii
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 53.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $68K | +3% | 340 |
| Kahului-Wailuku | $61K | -7% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 53.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/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 Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,814/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 80% 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 Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Hawaii pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Hawaii?
The median is $65,560 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,900, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $82,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,169/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 53.7% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 $59,508 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.