Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In New Jersey, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $78,760 at the median, or about $37.87 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $79,283 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 40.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in New Jersey?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators, local pay runs about 31% 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 $2,067/month, which is 40.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) 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, New Jersey
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland | $80K | +2% | 60 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $65K | -17% | 140 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $63K | -20% | 150 |
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 40.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 New Jersey?
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 $3,063/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $79K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
New Jersey pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in New Jersey?
The median is $78,760 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,050, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $99,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,075/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 40.7% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $79,283 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.