Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $63,080 at the median, or about $30.33 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $63K actually covers in Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area, month by month
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $31K 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 Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 28.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,179/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 Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,940/month.
Is water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator a high-paying job in Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +5%.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $63,080 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,000, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $79,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,179/month, which eats 28.4% 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 Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area?
Southwest Minnesota 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 $63,080 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.