Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Massachusetts, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $68,550 at the median, or about $32.96 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $68,488 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 52.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in Massachusetts?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 53% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $73K | +7% | 140 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $73K | +7% | 1,460 |
| Worcester | $67K | -2% | 360 |
| Springfield | $66K | -3% | 160 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $64K | -7% | 80 |
| Pittsfield | $61K | -11% | 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 53% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,059/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $69K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Massachusetts pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Massachusetts?
The median is $68,550 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,980, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $91,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,432/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 53% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 $68,488 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.