Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $49,020 at the median, or about $23.57 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers.
So what does $49K get you in Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $82K | +36% | 11,630 |
| Nevada | $81K | +36% | N/A |
| Washington | $81K | +35% | 2,030 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +31% | 980 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +31% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $75K | +24% | 2,290 |
| Colorado | $74K | +24% | 2,620 |
| Oregon | $70K | +16% | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $69K | +14% | 2,510 |
| Illinois | $68K | +13% | 3,500 |
| Hawaii | $66K | +9% | 610 |
| Delaware | $65K | +8% | 340 |
| New York | $64K | +7% | 5,300 |
| Vermont | $64K | +6% | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | +6% | 2,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | +5% | 4,660 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +5% | 500 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | +5% | 510 |
| Maryland | $62K | +3% | 1,770 |
| Maine | $62K | +3% | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $62K | +3% | 420 |
| Arizona | $61K | +2% | 3,950 |
| Utah | $61K | +2% | 1,900 |
| Nebraska | $61K | +2% | 740 |
| Iowa | $61K | +2% | 2,370 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +1% | 550 |
| Alaska | $60K | +0% | 750 |
| Virginia | $59K | -1% | 3,460 |
| Michigan | $59K | -1% | 3,400 |
| Ohio | $59K | -1% | 5,870 |
| Florida | $59K | -2% | 7,440 |
| Montana | $58K | -3% | 690 |
| Indiana | $54K | -11% | 3,140 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -11% | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $52K | -13% | 1,480 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -13% | 2,650 |
| Alabama | $52K | -14% | 2,770 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -14% | 3,620 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -16% | 3,140 |
| Missouri | $50K | -17% | 3,000 |
| Texas | $49K | -18% | 10,520 |
| Georgia | $49K | -18% | 3,310 |
| New Mexico | $48K | -20% | 2,110 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -21% | 1,100 |
| Kansas | $47K | -22% | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -23% | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -23% | 2,450 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -24% | 2,280 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -24% | 2,540 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -26% | 2,010 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area 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 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 54.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,783/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 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,790/month.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator a high-paying job in Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $49K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -18%.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $49,020 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,840, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $88,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,262/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,783/month, which eats 54.7% 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 Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area?
Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary is worth about $49,020 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.