Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary
In Virginia, water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators earn $59,420 at the median, or about $28.57 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $62,686 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 42.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Virginia?
About water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
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What this looks like in Virginia
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 42.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary by metro in Virginia
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $62K | +5% | 80 |
| Harrisonburg | $62K | +4% | 80 |
| Richmond | $60K | +1% | 380 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $60K | +0% | 640 |
| Lynchburg | $49K | -17% | 50 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $49K | -18% | 50 |
| Winchester | $48K | -19% | 50 |
| Roanoke | $47K | -22% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia 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 Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 42.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,315/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 71% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators?
Virginia pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators make in Virginia?
The median is $59,420 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,590, and experienced water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators can clear $79,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,907/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 42.1% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $62,686 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.