Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Iowa, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $60,990 at the median, or about $29.32 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $68,636 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Iowa?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $67K | +11% | 330 |
| Dubuque | $64K | +6% | 60 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $64K | +5% | 120 |
| Iowa City | $63K | +4% | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $63K | +4% | 220 |
| Cedar Rapids | $63K | +3% | 130 |
| Ames | $62K | +1% | 70 |
| Sioux City | $60K | -2% | 80 |
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 Iowa 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 Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
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 $2,813/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Iowa pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Iowa?
The median is $60,990 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,880, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $76,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,000/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 26.6% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $68,636 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.