Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Helena, MT
In Helena, MT, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $57,770 at the median — $27.77 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.67), that's roughly $60,385 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,404/month — about 37% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $58K get you in Helena?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Helena’s Regional Price Parity (95.67). 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, Helena, MT
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $40K 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
Track water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Helena, MT?
The median is $57,770 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,660, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $81,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Helena?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,846/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,404/month, which eats 36.5% 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 Helena?
Helena has a Regional Price Parity of 95.67 (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 $60,385 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.