Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Pennsylvania, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $63,310 at the median, or about $30.44 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $66,663 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Pennsylvania?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Pennsylvania
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $67K | +5% | 1,650 |
| Pittsburgh | $65K | +3% | 1,020 |
| Altoona | $65K | +3% | 70 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $64K | +1% | 320 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $64K | +1% | 280 |
| Lancaster | $64K | +1% | 260 |
| Lebanon | $62K | -2% | 40 |
| Reading | $61K | -3% | 190 |
| York-Hanover | $61K | -3% | 180 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $61K | -3% | 200 |
| Chambersburg | $61K | -4% | 90 |
| Johnstown | $61K | -4% | 70 |
| State College | $60K | -5% | 110 |
| Erie | $59K | -7% | 120 |
| Williamsport | $57K | -10% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 31.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,740/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Pennsylvania pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $63,310 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,670, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $80,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,247/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 31.8% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $66,663 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.