Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In South Dakota, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $53,370 at the median, or about $25.66 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $59,373 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in South Dakota?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in South Dakota runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $61K | +14% | 170 |
| Rapid City | $58K | +8% | 190 |
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 South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,633/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $53K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
South Dakota pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in South Dakota?
The median is $53,370 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,890, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $73,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,743/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 27.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary go in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $59,373 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.