Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary in Las Cruces, NM
In Las Cruces, NM, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $47,060 at the median — $22.62 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.21), which stretches that salary to about $52,167 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,042/month — about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Las Cruces?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Las Cruces’s Regional Price Parity (90.21). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Las Cruces, NM
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $39K 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 Las Cruces, NM?
The median is $47,060 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,460, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $72,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Las Cruces?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,212/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,042/month, which eats 32.4% 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 Las Cruces?
Las Cruces has a Regional Price Parity of 90.21 (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 $52,167 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.