Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Michigan, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $59,270 at the median, or about $28.49 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $63,127 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Michigan?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Michigan
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. 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 Michigan
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $67K | +13% | 130 |
| Monroe | $65K | +10% | 60 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $63K | +7% | 140 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $62K | +4% | 1,160 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $61K | +3% | 350 |
| Flint | $61K | +2% | 160 |
| Traverse City | $60K | +2% | 90 |
| Niles | $60K | +1% | 70 |
| Bay City | $60K | +1% | 80 |
| Jackson | $59K | -0% | 50 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $58K | -2% | 40 |
| Saginaw | $53K | -11% | 110 |
| Battle Creek | $52K | -12% | 60 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $45K | -24% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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Frequently asked questions
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 32.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Michigan?
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 $2,803/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Michigan pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Michigan?
The median is $59,270 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,710, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $75,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,929/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $63,127 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.