Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In New Mexico, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $48,190 at the median, or about $23.17 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $51,784 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in New Mexico?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in New Mexico runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $70K | +45% | 240 |
| Albuquerque | $48K | +0% | 700 |
| Farmington | $48K | -0% | 200 |
| Las Cruces | $47K | -2% | 200 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico 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 Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Mexico?
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 $2,167/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Mexico?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $48K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
New Mexico pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in New Mexico?
The median is $48,190 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,110, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $80,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 34.1% 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 Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $51,784 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.