Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Kansas, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $46,780 at the median, or about $22.49 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $52,245 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,066/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Kansas?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Kansas
Pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in Kansas runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,066/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Kansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $61K | +29% | 80 |
| Topeka | $49K | +4% | 100 |
| Manhattan | $47K | +2% | 70 |
| Wichita | $46K | -2% | 210 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas 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 Kansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,152/month. At HUD’s $1,066/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Kansas?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $47K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Kansas pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Kansas?
The median is $46,780 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,870, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $66,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,135/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/month, which eats 34% 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 Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (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 $52,245 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.